Distributed worldwide, House Mice can be found throughout the United States. House mice are not only a nuisance, but they can pose significant health and property threats.  

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House mice live in structures, but they can survive outdoors, too. They will benefit of holes larger than a dime and gaps wider than a pencil to gain entry into homes.  Attics and basements provide excellent hiding places for them to build nests out of paper products, cotton, packing materials, wall insulation and or fabrics. 

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House mice breed rapidly and can adapt quickly to changing conditions. In fact, a female house mouse can give birth to a half dozen babies every three weeks and can produce up to 35 young per year. They are also excellent climbers and can jump up to a foot high; however, they are colorblind and cannot see clearly beyond six inches.

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House mice can pose serious health threats. House mice can carry diseases and contaminate stored food that they eat in the home. House mice have been implicated in the spread of salmonella through their feces. Humans can become ill by consuming salmonella contaminated food. Symptoms of salmonellosis include diarrhea, fever and abdominal pain. House mice may also spread rat bite fever, although this is uncommon. Humans can catch this bacteria-borne infectious disease through contact with a dead mouse or by consuming food contaminated by mouse feces. Symptoms of rat bite fever may appear between 3 and 10 days after contact with a contaminated mouse and include fever, vomiting, headache, rash and muscle pain. If you suspect that your symptoms are associated with rodent infestation, seek medical attention. Be sure to tell your doctor if you suspect contact with rodents or rodent droppings.  

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