Some people have said that the house mouse is the second most successful mammal in the world. Whether it is true or not, one thing is for sure – it is definitely one of the most impactful rodent pests in the US. It is estimated that the house mouse accounts for more than half of all rodent control efforts, and despite this, it still manages to survive, thrive and spread. Here are some of the reasons why:
They can adapt to a wide range of habitats
You could compare the house mouse to a weed because it can adapt to so many conditions and live in so many varied environments. In fact, it is the second most widely distributed mammal on the planet after humans. It is a species that inhabits most of the major land masses in the world, being present pretty much everywhere you find humans with very few exceptions. They are able to adapt to scorching hot weather and below zero climates.
They have a small body
When you are a commensal species, a small body size can be quite useful. It allows you to take up as little space as possible in your search for food and shelter. It also allows you to gain entry to many structures or areas that would otherwise be unreachable. It also allows you to enter cargo holds, boxes and containers which will carry you all over the world.
They are stealthy
The small body size helps mice to be stealthy, but that is not the only adaptation that allows them to remain mostly unnoticed. Mice are active when people are inactive, preferring to scavenge and move around at night. They are also fast and quiet, and thanks to this ability to go undetected, mice are able to build large nests inside a building before they are noticed by other inhabitants.
They reproduce quickly
If mice have access to food and shelter, they will multiply very fast. The average litter for a female house mouse is 6 offspring that are birthed in 3 weeks. On top of that, if the mice have access to nesting materials, they can build a shelter under the most adverse circumstances, including inside frozen meat lockers and the like.
When all these factors come together, you have a rodent species that is extremely well-adapted to surviving and thriving alongside humans. It is why it is so important to get a mouse infestation under control as soon as you notice the first signs spring up. If you think you have a mouse infestation, contact us today and we will help you get it under control.
