House Mice and Field Mice: What’s The Difference?

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House Mice and Field Mice: What’s The Difference?

Learn From The Pros

House mice and field mice are similar in many ways but there are some differences from their coloring to their size. Both can easily squeeze into your home through small cracks in your walls or foundation.

House Mice and Field Mice: Who’s Who

What ways distinguish house mice and field mice? Depending on where you live will determine which type of mouse you could encounter. They both have many similarities but the differences mainly depend on which environment they seek. House mice look to build their nest indoors as field mice like their life in nature.

Humans and mice have coexisted since time began. Thanks to history, we have several records of human encounters with mice infestations dating back 15,000 years. These are the fuzzy little rodents that adore burrowing into your warm home for shelter and stolen grub. However, you may also encounter their close relative, the wood or field mouse. They have a lot of the same features but are different species. Think of them as the classic tale of the city mouse and the country mouse.

House Mouse

Bodies

Many mouse species range from the tiniest African pygmy mice to those that are as large as rats. The house mice and field mice of America are small creatures with small bodies; their tails, however, are long, running the full length of their bodies. They also have a unique contortion ability due to the fact they can squeeze their bodies through the smallest of crevices.

The standard house mouse is usually about 2-3 ½ inches long while field mice are slightly larger. Field mice have bigger ears and a pointy nose compared to house mice whose noses are more flat. Their rounded bodies can be shades of gray or brown with a white belly. Both house and field mice use their color as camouflage, so their color often depends on where they are living.

Features

The house and field mice’s features include large, rounded ears, beady black eyes, and a pointed or flattened nose with whiskers. They have five tiny mouse appendages on each foot, and their hind legs extend further than their front ones. They communicate with a high-pitched squeak.

Conversely, field mice can grow up to four inches. They tend to have a reddish or beige coat with a white belly. Their eyes and ears are comparatively smaller than house mice, and they have larger and stronger hind legs. Also, field mice usually have white feet while house mice are a solid color.

Both house mice and field mice have prominent incisors that they use to gnaw through wood and other materials to make nests and crunch through tough seeds. While both species are avid runners and jumpers, the field mouse is quicker and can jump a little higher than house mice.

Field Mouse

A Mischief of House Mice

Behaviors

All mice species, including house and field mice, are social animals. They prefer to be with their own kind and you will often find them nesting together. Mischief is a word to describe a group of mice because they are always causing destruction while being a thief in the night to any snacks they can retrieve.

As their name implies, field mice usually live in forests and meadows away from human contact. However, house mice have become used to humans over thousands of years. They prefer to be squatters in homes and buildings that people occupy.

Field mice and house mice are both nocturnal species. They use the darkness as their natural camouflage to seek food to bring back to their nests to share with others. Unlike rats, mice don’t venture much farther than about 10 feet from their nest for food foraging.

Preferred Environments

Humans do not cause fear and alarm for house mice; they are much more tolerant of being around humans. Field mice are a lot more skittish around humans so if mice are living in your home, it is most likely house mice. Field mice detest humans and stay as far away as they can. During winter cold and shortages of food, field mice are often forced to take shelter in a warm human abode.

Unlike many other social animals, house mice and field mice communities do not have a chain of command. Males of both species will often fight other males for dominance and mating privileges. They can often be territorial during the breeding season.

These mice may be small, but they are quite intelligent. Studies have shown that mice have a good memory and can even be taught to do simple tasks. If you have a pet mouse, that may be good news, but not when you are dealing with wild mice.

Scared Field Mouse

Field Mouse Eating

Diet

House mice and field mice both have small mouths with very sharp teeth. This makes eating grain, seeds, corn, and vegetation easy. They will eat anything but prefer grains, seeds, corn, and plants. Field mice are omnivores and will eat insects, small invertebrates, or even dead carcasses.

House mice have a more domesticated taste for food. These creatures have lived closely with people for so long that they’ve become used to human food. While they usually will eat grains and seeds, they will also scope out and eat anything in your pantry. Bread, cereal, and anything sweet is very tempting for these rodents. House mice are omnivores as well and will eat insects such as roaches and crickets.

House Mice and Field Mice Circle of Life

House mice and field mice are mammal species, which means they have live births, and the momma mouse will feed her young breastmilk. Pups are what the baby mice are called and they are born hairless, blind, and dependent on the mother. House mice are rapid breeders and can produce up to six pups in a litter with multiple litters throughout the year. Now, you understand how easily a mouse infestation can occur.

Field mice are known to produce their litter even faster than house mice, with an astonishing 10 litters of pups throughout the year! It’s a good thing that field mice prefer to stay outdoors because that can add up to 140 pups being produced by one female.

Both species have highly dependent pups who stay close to their mothers. The nursing mice will have fully developed ears by their fourth day and will have a full coat of hair by their 10th day. Within two weeks, the baby’s eyes are open. After their 21st day, they are weened and are considered adults ready to search for food and mates. House mice and field mice living outside will only breed during the pleasant weather of spring, summer, and autumn. Mortality rates for pups are too high during the harsh cold of winter. If either type sneaks into the warm comfort of your home, they will happily breed all year long. The females of both species usually produce every 25 days until they die.

Invading your home also ups the mice’s life expectancy by nearly three times. Field mice have many natural predators, including snakes, birds of prey, cats, and larger mammals. Barring disease and predators, most field and house mice only live a year. As an unwelcome houseguest, they can survive to the ripe old age of 2 to 3 years.

Both house mice and field mice love comfort. When they find a safe and secluded place, they will build a cozy nest to settle into. As the mouse mischief multiplies, single mice will often build a new nest. For field mice, hollow logs, brambles, and abandoned ground borrows are prime real estate.

The field mouse will gather leaves, moss, dried grass, and discarded bird feathers to line their nests. They will only venture a few feet away to find food and then scurry back to the safety of their secluded homes.

A difference in how house mice and field mice nest is in the way they store food. Field mice don’t depend on human food sources so they store up enough food for the winter. They prepare dedicated spaces to store seeds, acorns, and other morsels. House mice usually don’t hold as much food if there is a ready supply available.

House mice and field mice living outside will only breed during the pleasant weather of spring, summer, and autumn. Mortality rates for pups are too high during the harsh cold of winter. If either type sneaks into the warm comfort of your home, they will happily breed all year long. The females of both species usually produce every 25 days until they die.

Both house mice and field mice are creatures of comfort. When they find a safe and secluded nook, they will create a warm and cozy nest for themselves and their babies. As the mouse mischief multiplies, single mice will often build a new nest. For field mice, hollow logs, brambles, and abandoned ground borrows are prime real estate.

One of the critical differences between house mice and field mice nesting is how they store food. Field mice don’t have the luxury of raiding human pantries and cabinets, so they depend on food storage for the winter. They prepare dedicated spaces to store seeds, acorns, and other morsels. House mice usually don’t hold as much food if there is a ready supply available.

Diseases Carried By House Mice and Field Mice

Since mice are small, squeaky, and almost “cute,” they are often given human qualities for children’s literature and art. A whole world of animation and theme parks revolves around a beloved animated mouse and his friends.

Behind the sweet human-like façade created for mice is a severe threat to your health and property. Just a quick study in European history can reveal how dangerous rodent infestations are. Rats and mice were the cause of the Bubonic plague that killed millions of people during the Middle Ages.

Although mice don’t carry diseases directly, they host fleas that carry the virus. Mice are still capable of spreading the plague virus by infected fleas. The flea infects the mice then other fleas bite the infected mice, which then bite people.

It’s a deadly whirlpool that’s often caused by mouse infestations. Both house mice and field mice depend on their razor-sharp incisors to gnaw through rigid materials to build nests and find food.

Damage From House Mice and Field Mice

Once inside your home, they need warm, secluded nests. Both house mice and field mice will chew through baseboards and through walls. They will chew through insulation and wires to create perfect nests. House mice can also make their way inside your sofa, chair cushions and under appliances. They are super agile and can crawl through the smallest holes in your home are more likely to find a way inside when the weather turns cold.

It’s uncommon for field mice to infest a home, but they will if it comes to survival. One of the tell-tell signs that you have rodent invaders is holes gnawed in walls and sometimes ceiling corners. Both species will build nests in rafters, attics, basements, and crawl spaces. Sometimes, they’ll be brave enough to take up housekeeping in drawers, cabinets, and furniture.

Contamination Spread by House Mice and Field Mice

Besides the expensive damage these nocturnal nuisances can do to a home, they can also cost thousands of dollars in stolen and ruined food. While you and your family sleep, house mice and field mice can invade your food supply and nibble on anything they see. The food they touch is immediately contaminated with the germs on their body, saliva, urine, and countless drops of fecal matter.

All of these mouse biproducts can be dangerous to you, your family, and your pets. House and field mice have been known to carry rabies and one bite will infect humans and other animals. Plus, they can carry many other diseases, such as salmonella, LCMV, and hantavirus. As their waste decomposes to dust quickly, it becomes airborne and can cause severe respiratory conditions.

They chew through clothes and other textiles to use for nesting material, all the time dropping urine and feces. They are also known to destroy books, furniture, and just about anything in your home. If you suspect an infestation of house mice or field mice, you need professional service.

Getting Rid of House Mice and Field Mice

Your first line of defense against invading mice is to block possible entryways. Seal cracks and holes in your foundation and walls and repair or replace damaged screens. Keep trash cans, and dumpsters sealed and avoid leaving food scraps outside that can attract vermin. Make sure that hay, straw, or animal feed outside is stored correctly.

Seal up any suspected mouse holes in your walls, under sinks, or cabinet kickboards. It’s important to have any pantry items in sealed containers. Also, make sure to clean up spills, take the trash outside, and be sure to not leave dirty dishes in the sink. If you notice scratching sounds in your walls, that is a red flag that mice have taken over.

Traps may seem like an easy fix but can cause safety issues for your family and your pets. It doesn’t matter what type of mouse infestation you have because all mice come with risks. Professional extermination can get the unwanted pests out, and ensure your home is not at risk for the deadly viruses these rodents bring.

You are more likely to have a house mice invasion than field mice unless you live in the country. No matter which kind you have, a mouse infestation poses severe risks to your family and property. Professional extermination can get the unwanted pests out, and ensure your home is not at risk for the deadly viruses these rodents bring.