Tamarack Wildlife Rehabilitation & Education Center

House Mouse
Mus musculus

Although tiny in comparison to many other wild animals, the house mouse gives humans the most trouble.

Habitat: House mice prefer to live inside buildings. Much of the house mouse’s life is spent in secure, comfortable niches between walls and behind cabinets and appliances.

Diet: Mice are omnivores and eat a variety of foods, including seeds, grains, and nuts. They can live without access to fresh water if the solid food they eat is somewhat moist.

Public Health Issues Associated with Mice

• Mice can carry a wide variety of diseases that are transmissible to humans, including hantavirus, salmonellosis, and Lyme disease.

Problems Associated with Mice

• When present in large numbers, mice can consume great quantities of stored seeds and grain.

• Mice urine and feces can contaminate food.

• Mice can cause property damage by gnawing wood, paper, cloth, books, and insulation or wiring.

Solutions

• A number of live traps are commercially available.

• Live traps can be created using a bathroom wastebasket.

Bait the wastebasket with bread, sunflower seed, or peanut butter.

Tilt the basket on its side with a "ladder" of books so that the mouse must climb to get to the rim of the wastebasket.

From the rim the mouse will most likely slide down the side of the wastebasket to obtain the food. It will then be unable to climb out.

Once the mouse is caught, it can safely be transported and released outside.

• Carefully examine the building to identify areas of entry. Seal them. To identify areas where mice are active, sprinkle powder or flour along the inside perimeter of walls and thresholds.