Mice

While most of us associate them with the image of Mickey Mouse or Tom & Jerry, a mice infestation still poses a serious threat to humans and mice damage to our homes. Let’s discuss some of the more important aspects of these gnawing mammals.

 

Different species found in the UK

 

House Mouse (Mus musculus)

These species reach 4 inches (10 cm) in length (nose to base of the tail, the tail can reach up to 4 inches, approximately 10 cm), and have a darker-coloured grey fur. You can distinguish them from young rats by their thin tail, large eyes, and small feet and head.

 

 

Yellow Necked Field Mice (Apodemus flavicollis)

The other type of mice you may encounter indoors is the Yellow necked field mice. It has yellow-coloured fur and can reach a little bit over a centimetre without the tail.

 

 

Feeding Habits

Almost all mice are herbivores. Each species prefer different types of food. While Field mice’s and House mice’s diet consists of fruits and cereal, Yellow necked field mice feed on cables and wood.

Thus, they pose a serious threat as they can cause structural instability or fires due to short circuits. Mice’s diet is mostly dry and they consume less than 3mcgs of water per day.

 

Risks and Hazards

Mice are a perfect host for fleas—make sure you check our fleas entry on the various diseases they spread. The rodents also carry deadly illnesses such as leptospirosis, tularemia, typhus and even bubonic plague. Yet the main health hazard associated with them are germs from their urine, droppings, or consumed gnawed food.

They need to chew on something almost all the time as their teeth never stop growing. Gnawed cables can cause short circuits which result in fire. A study in the US showed up to 20 per cent of all domestic fires start this way. They can also compromise the structural integrity of your building and cause dangerous destruction.