Mice are one of those pests that are known to be rapid reproducers. And they don’t tend to hang out alone. If you happen to see you one scurrying about your house, chances are their friends are waiting somewhere in the wings.
But exactly how many mice can be in a litter? How many can you expect to be roaming around your home? We have all the answers on the lifecycles of these pesky creatures.
How Many Mice Are In A Litter?
If you want a quick answer to the question of how many mice are in a litter it would be- A LOT. And then if you start to add up the litters of multiple mice, whew that is a lot of mice in your house.
But the long answer is that each female mouse in your home can have an average of 5 to 10 pregnancies a year. And each of those pregnancies can produce anywhere from 3 to 14 mice in a litter. With an average female mouse having 5 to 10 litters per year.
And it doesn’t take much time for those mice to start reproducing. They are able to reproduce when they are 50 days old, with some as early as 25 days!. So that means it won’t be long before those mice from the litters will be reproducing as well.
How Long Do Mice Live?
If mice aren’t living very long, then it shouldn’t be a big deal if they aren’t reproducing. They will stop soon right? Wrong. They actually can live longer if they find a nice cozy place to live, like your home.
Mice will live only an average of 12 months outside when exposed to harsh environments like the cold and trying to evade predators. And they also have to scrounge for food.
However, when they are nice and comfortable in your house, they have a nice supply of food, water, and warmth. They are now going to live 2 to 3 years on average.
They have a nice setup for their growing family. But, this isn’t good for you or your family.
How Do You Know You Have a Mouse Problem
So, like we mentioned before, seeing one mouse doesn’t mean that you have one mouse. It most likely means that there are many mice in your home. Noticing a mouse will be a huge sign that you have a mouse problem.
However, there are other signs you can look for in case you haven’t seen a critter making its way across your home yet. These can be things like:
- Droppings
- Chewed furniture
- Mouse tracks
- Nibbled food in your kitchen
- Scratching noises
Another telltale sign of a mouse problem is noticing a mouse nest. While many people believe that these creatures like to burrow in the ground and live in tunnels, they can get comfy in plenty of places in your house.
You might find a mouse nest in places like your wall voids, storage boxes, attics, barns, sheds, lofts, basements, crawl spaces, or cabinets. Pretty much anywhere they won’t be bothered and is near food and water sources.
Any of these signs mean that it is time to get a plan together to rid your home of these pests, and quick!
How To Get Rid of Mice
So, once you have determined that your home is not just the residence of your family any longer, that it is also the home of quite a few mice, what do you need to do about it?
Well, you can first start by making sure that no more of their long-lost relatives make their way into your home. This means pest-proofing. This includes things like sealing up any holes around your home that they could use to make their way in.
You want to fix things such as cracks in the foundation, holes in screens, weatherstripping, dryer vents. Think small. Mice are experts at squeezing their way in. And you want to make sure that you use something that mice can’t chew their way through as well such as steel wool Remember these pests are super chewers.
And after you have pest-proofed this is when you start to treat for the mice you currently have. There are options to trap mice yourself, but then there is the issue with having to remove the ones you have trapped.
Another option is to give a call to your local pest control expert so that they can quickly find the nests and remove the mice so that your family isn’t exposed those the disease-carrying pests any longer than they have to be.
Call us for Help
Finding any amount of mice within your home can be nerve-racking. They not only cause a great amount of damage but they can be harmful to your health as well.
Luckily for you, Kapture has been dealing with these pests for years, so we know exactly how to give them the boot and get your house back to normal in no time.
If you find yourself with a mouse problem, or any other pest issue gives us a call and we can get rid of it quickly. And for any other pest-related questions we always offer free phone consultations.
Contact Kapture for a No-Obligation Phone Consultation and Quote:
Call 1-888-811-5813 or schedule online now to start protecting your home and family today!
