Mouse
Learn how to identify mice and the threat they can pose to your home and family.
Description
Mice are commonly grayish, but the color can vary. The body is roughly 3 – 4 inches in length, with the tail being of equal length. The muzzle is pointy, the ears are large and the eyes are small.
Habitat
Utah Black widow spiders prefer dry dark locations and will seek warm dwellings in winter. In nature, black widows build their webs on rocky outcroppings, under logs, and between stones, rock crevices and under loose bark and stones, in small trees and under bushes. Amidst human habitation, they typically hide in sheltered, dimly lit locations such as garages, dark corners, basements, closets, and cluttered areas.
Diet
Mice will eat most foods humans eat, such as cereals, fruit, grains, meats, seeds, sweets and vegetables. However, mice will eat most anything when there is limited food available. They generally have 2 main feedings, one in the evening and another just before dawn, with numerous small feedings in between.
Life Cycle & Reproduction
Mice become sexually mature at about 5 weeks. Female mice can reproduce up to 8 times in their lifespan, with each litter ranging from 4-7 pups. Therefore, a single female mouse can produce up to 56 offspring.
Threat
Mice and rats transmit diseases through physical contact, bites, and contamination. They damage and destroy property by chewing wires, which may cause fires. They destroy labels on cans and damage sacks and other containers. They undermine buildings, gnaw pipes, chew water hoses, and cut through mortar and cement. They damage wood doors, floors, walls, clothing and furniture. Mice and rats carry diseases that are health hazards to both human and domestic animals – diseases such as typhus fever, trichinosis, plague, infectious jaundice, salmonella.
Common Utah Pests
- American Roaches
- Bed Bugs
- Black Widows
- Box Elder Bugs
- Brown Recluse
- Carpenter Ants
- Carpenter Bees
- Carpet Beetles
- Centipedes
- Earwigs
- Elm Seed Bugs
- Crickets
- German Roaches
- Hobo Spiders
- Honey Bees
- Indian Meal Moths
- Lawn Pests
- Mice
- Millipedes
- Norway Rats
- Oriental Roaches
- Paper Wasps
- Roof Rats
- Sow Bugs
- Termites
- Voles
- Yellow Jackets