Rodents: Signs of a Mouse Infestation
January 26, 2010 - Christine Venuti
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Droppings, fresh gnaw marks, and tracks are some indications that there may be a mouse problem. Mice are very good at making themselves at home in our environment. I can remember sitting in a friend's kitchen, playing cards one day, when an uninvited mouse came running across the floor. This kind of encounter can be very frightening and upsetting. One thing to remember, if you have mouse sightings during the day, in your living spaces, you may have a much bigger problem than you realize.
These intrusive pests eat grains and seeds outdoors, but once inside they will eat almost anything. A female mouse will produce about 5-10 litters in one year, with 5 or 6 young per litter. The young are born 19-21 days after mating and they reach reproductive maturity in only 6-10 weeks. The average life span of a house mouse is one year.
The house mouse is a very agile creature. They are excellent climbers and can run up any rough vertical surface. They will also run horizontally along wire cables or ropes and can jump up to 12 inches from the floor onto a flat surface. Mice can squeeze through openings as small as ¼ inch across. That’s equivalent to the diameter of a pencil eraser.
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