Mouse Management:

The house mouse (Mus musculus) is considered one of the most troublesome and economically important rodents in the United States.  House mice live and thrive under a variety of conditions.  They are found in and around homes and farms  as well as in open fields and agricultural lands.  House mice consume and contaminate food meant for humans, livestock, or other animals.  They cause damage to structures and property, and they may transmit disease such as salmonellaosis (food poisoning).


Recognizing Mouse Infestations:

Droppings, fresh gnawing, and tracks indicate areas where mice are active.  Mouse nests, made from fine shredded paper or other fibrous material are often found in sheltered locations.  House mice have a characteristic musky odor that identifies their presence.  Mice are occasionally seen during daylight hours.


House Mouse Facts:

House mice are non-descript, brownish rodents with relatively large ears and small eyes.   They weigh about 1/2 ounce and are usually light brownish to light grayish.   An adult is about 5 1/2 to 7 1/2 inches long, including the 3- to 4- tail.

Although house mice usually feed on cereal grains, they will eat many kinds of food.   They are sporadic feeders, nibbling bits of food here and there.  Mice have keen senses of taste, hearing, smell and touch.  They are excellent climbers and can run up any rough vertical surface.  They will run  horizontally along wire cables or ropes and can jump up 13 inches from the floor onto a flat surface.  Mice can squeeze through openings slightly larger than 1/4 inch in diameter.

In a single year, a female may have five to ten litters of usually five or six young each.  Young are born 19 to 21 days after mating, and they reach reproductive maturity in six to ten weeks.  The life span of a mouse is about nine to twelve months.

House Mouse Control:
Effective control involves three aspects: sanitation, mouse proof construction and population reduction.  The first two are useful as preventive measures.  When a mouse infestation already exists, some form of population reduction is almost always necessary.  Reduction techniques include trapping and poisoning.

Control Methods:

1. Woodbase Snap Traps

2. Rat & Mice Repellents ( Exterior Use Only)

3. Rodent Electrocution System

4. Glue Boards

5. Poison Baits (Rodentcides)

6. Multiple-Capture Live Traps

7. Contact your local National Pest Control Association Member

Med-Pest Control
350 Mountain Avenue
Middlesex, New Jersey 08846
Tel: (732) 469-5999
Fax: (732) 271-1824