mice

The house mouse has been in Britain for about 3000 years, it is found in both rural and urban areas and mainly lives indoors but may live outdoors during the summer months.

Although they have rather poor eyesight, the senses of smell, hearing, touch and taste are very acute.

Gnawing is to keep their front teeth short is part of the mouse's behavior and not necessary a part of searching for food.

They are extremely good climbers and can climb a rough textured vertical elevation.

Diet

Although they prefer a cereal based diet they will eat a wide range of foods. They tend to each approximately 3-4 grams of food per day and are irregular feeders. Tending to feed from various points during the day rather than one point, usually within a radius of 5mtrs if possible. The house mouse needs very little water.

Born - weaned = 3 weeks

Sexually mature = 8-12 weeks

Life cycle

Pregnancy 17-20 days

Litter size 5-6 (has several litters in a life span of approximately 1 year.)

Weaned = 3 weeks

The damage done by mice is common knowledge - food contaminated by eating, walking over it, droppings, urine, gnawing at the fabric of buildings and particularly electrical wiring in roof spaces, plastic and lead water pipes.

Signs of infestation are sightings, droppings, smell, hearing the running around at night, food nibbled and evidence of gnawing.