How Long Can A Mouse Hold Its Breath?

How does a mouse hold its breath?

A mouse is an extremely adaptable little creature and the makeup of its respiratory system makes its breathing ability highly efficient. The lungs of a mouse are small but mighty as long as oxygen is still present. In a situation where oxygen isn’t present, like if it were to be trapped in an airtight container, a mouse would not be able to survive 60 seconds. A mouse in water is a different story because oxygen is still present in water, allowing the mouse to be able to hold its breath while underwater. The tiny lungs are built to sustain the rapid energy of a very active creature that is constantly on the move.

Can Mice Swim?

With all this breath-holding ability, it is only natural to assume that mice can swim. Mice indeed can swim and are actually very good swimmers. This adds to mice and their superpower capabilities. Those tiny, little legs can tread water unlike you’ve ever seen and have been known to swim for 3 days. It is insane how a mouse holds its breath for 3 minutes and can swim for up to 3 days; 3 must be their lucky number. The fact is that mice don’t typically love to swim but if they need to escape a predator or are looking for food, they will hop in the water in a hurry and activate their swimming power.

There are many stories in New Jersey of a mouse entering a home through their toilet. This seems impossible to think a mouse could find its way through the tunnel system of plumbing pipes but it has happened. Since mice have the super ability to hold their breath for 3 minutes in water and have exceptional navigation skills in tight spaces, this is absolutely possible. Mice can also access your toilet from inside your house and crawl up into it. Of course, getting in is way easier than getting out of the toilet so if you find yourself in this dilemma, you may want to just scoop out your toilet intruder and let him go back outside.

A Mouse in the House, Now What?

Sometimes mice will vacate your home as unwelcome guests. It may be a rarity to find out how a mouse hold its breath and gets inside by swimming up the plumbing pipes to your toilet. Maybe the mouse was unlucky in its curiosity and it climbed into your toilet for you to find it swimming around. Most likely, a mouse or several mice have found their way in by open doors or windows to holes and cracks in your attic. Whatever the case may be, having a mouse in the house will always cause issues.

Did you know that mice make up about 25 percent of the yearly cause of house fires? That is a big percentage for a tiny creature that can hold its breath. This happens because mice are chewers and chew through anything and everything, including electrical wires. By not controlling the mice population in your home, you are subjected to a higher risk of house fire. Mice are also a health risk in the way they spread bacteria and viral illnesses. Mice droppings give off ammonia that hinders healthy airflow in a home. An infestation of mice can get out of hand quickly if not dealt with properly. No homeowner wants to spend their days setting traps, checking traps, and discarding dead mice. So professionals were born to make it their job to see to it mice are dealt with in a way that gets them out of your home and prevents them from coming back.

Kapture Pest Control is the ultimate solution to any mice problem you face. From finding mice in your attic that are making little mice families to the rare chance a mouse has held its breath and found its way into your toilet. Kapture has solutions that make it easier to catch mice and we even discard them so you don’t have to. There is no rodent too big or small that will stop us from providing exceptional care and service to you and your home. At the first signs of an unwanted houseguest, give Kapture a call. We will be there to assess the situation and create a plan to solve your mouse problem.