Where do they live?
They live in dark, sheltered places near a food supply and heat (usually behind appliances). They do not need much water.
How do they live?
Adult females can produce 6 to 10 litters (of 5 to 6 pups each) per year. A house mouse can reach sexual maturity in 35 days and its life span is 9 to 12 months.
An adult mouse can squeeze through an opening as small as 6.3mm.
Though house mice prefer eating cereal grains, they will sample many different foods.
How do they affect us?
The house mice contaminate food, damage property and spread disease. They damage food, clothing, documents, and structures through gnawing, urination, defecation, and nesting activities.
How do we control them?
The best control is to prevent their entry indoors. Particular note should be taken of areas around pipes and electrical conduits. Holes, cracks, and crevices can be packed with copper wool or stainless steel wool (that will not rust), then caulked over. It would not be prudent to use plastic screening, rubber, vinyl, insulating foam, wood, and other gnawable materials for plugging holes used by mice. You may also consider installing tight-fitting door sweeps and keeping exterior doors closed.
All food and crumbs should be cleaned away and water leaks should be fixed. Clutter indoors and outdoors should be reduced and dumpsters should be moved away from buildings.
When the house mice numbers are not too high, using snap traps can be an effective way of controlling these pests.