If you see signs of a mouse in your home, it’s a certainty there are many of them lurking inside. That’s because these mammals are tremendously prolific breeders.

The house mouse (Mus musculus) has a gestation period of a mere 19 to 21 days. A litter consists of up to 14 young. Females give birth to as many as 56 pups every year. Each of those can reach sexual maturity in as soon as five weeks. Those unfortunate realities can quickly turn your dwelling into a rodent hotel. 

When they live outdoors, house mice have a lifespan of about a year. Abundant predators in the wild keep their years abbreviated. But indoors, predator-free mice can live and reproduce for two or even three years.

There are a number of telltale signs when you have a mouse infestation. Mice have greasy fur that leaves behind rub marks, paths of smudges on walls. You may find droppings, chew marks or even nest material. Scratching sounds in your walls are also tip-offs of these unwanted guests.

Obviously, no one wants house mice around. They can transmit dozens of diseases via their urine, saliva and droppings, contaminating food and kitchen surfaces with bacteria. Diseases these rodents carry include salmonella, monkeypox, leptospirosis and Lujo hemorrhagic fever. These are illnesses the mice transmit directly. But because mice carry fleas, ticks and lice, they can also indirectly transmit Colorado tick fever, flea-borne typhus and even the plague. 

Another danger of having mice around is their tendency to chew electric wiring, creating fire hazards. They even chew wiring in cars, sometimes ruining the electrical system. 

Many people respond by placing mouse traps to help diminish populations, but these seldom put a dent in the vast numbers that can inhabit a home. Given the dangers of rodent-borne illness and the speed at which mice breed, a more effective solution is in order. 

Slug-A-Bug is your local rodent control expert. We can inspect your home to give you an assessment of how advanced the problem is. Call us today at (321) 259-7844 for a no-cost, no-obligation inspection. 

For more information:

https://a-z-animals.com/blog/mouse-gestation-period-how-long-are-mice-pregnant/

https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Mus_musculus/

https://www.earthkind.com/blog/how-do-you-know-if-you-have-a-mouse-in-the-house/

https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/know-about-house-mice

https://www.cdc.gov/rodents/diseases/index.html

https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/why-do-mice-chew-electrical-wires/