The house mouse is a small mammal that is 6 to 10 cm-long, without its tail that measures about 8 cm. It weighs between 15 and 30 grams. Its hair is sort of grey in color whereas its belly is mostly white. Due to a good pair of ears, a pointed nose and little eyes, its senses are very sharp. It has a very good sense of smell and sharp hearing, which compensates for its poor eye sight. The house mouse is a nocturnal species. It prefers hunting for its food at night, when it feels safer, but it is possible to see a house mouse during the day. It is omnivorous; it can eat just about anything: meat substitutes, grains, nuts, vegetables, small fruits, etc. Because it is small, it can squeeze through anywhere, since a 0.5 cm opening is all it takes, making it easy as pie to enter restaurants, houses, sheds and other buildings.

Reproduction

The lifespan of a house mouse is about one year. It breeds year-round and the pups are born after a three-week pregnancy only. A female is capable of producing up to 8 litters per year with an average of 4 to 6 pups per litter. At about 3 months only, the pups become adults and reach sexual maturity. This is why a mouse infestation can become full-blown in a very short time.

How they spread

Garage doors that are not sealed.
Front doors and back doors that are not sealed.
Missing grill on the outside end of a dryer’s duct.
Infested neighborhood: mice move from one unit to another through pipes (bathtub trap) or through holes in walls.
Damaged soffits allowing mice to infiltrate the attic.

Modes d’infestation

Portes de garage non étanches.
Portes d’entrée avant et arrière non étanches.
Grillage manquant sur la sortie extérieure du conduit de la sécheuse.
Voisinage infesté : les souris circulent d’un logement à l’autre par le système de tuyauterie (trappe à bain) ou par des trous dans les murs.
Soffites endommagés permettant aux souris de s’infiltrer dans le grenier.