House Mice

The house mouse has a typical mouse profile: small feet, big eyes, thinly-haired ears, and a pointed snout with thin whiskers.

Their body length ranges between 60-90mm, and their tail generally equals the length of their body, adding another 90mm.

They weigh less than 25g, and their fur colour is uniformly light brown and grey, right down to the tail, which has sparse hairs on it.

And keep those pegs handy - they have a really distinctive, strong smell, so you’ll know if you have a large infestation of these unwanted guests. The tell-tale signs mice are about:

Their presence is usually detected from one of the following signs:

• Mice droppings - these are often black and about the size and shape of a grain of rice. Fresh droppings will be soft and moist. Each mouse can leave approximately 80 droppings per day. Common places to find mouse droppings are under the kitchen sink, around central heating boilers, and in roof spaces.

• Strong ammonia smell - mice urinate frequently.

• Smear marks - these are dark grey marks left on surfaces by repeated contact with the oils in mouse fur.

• Nests - sometimes nests can be found indoors, for example, in lofts, under floorboards, or in airing cupboards.

• Damage to stored food in cupboards and pantries.

• Gnaw marks on materials such as wood, carpets, paper, pipe cables, and furniture.

Why Are Mice More Common in Winter?

Mice do not hibernate and are a problem all year round.

House mice are already living in and around wherever we are. But as the weather gets colder, those field mice currently surviving outdoors will look for warmer places to nest and begin to move indoors.

They are highly adaptable and won’t hesitate to take advantage of a cosy human structure during the winter months. Food is also an issue - they begin to scavenge closer to humans, as their own sources are no longer plentiful.

Mice Around Businesses

Property and landowners have a legal obligation under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 to keep premises rodent-free, or, if rodents pose a threat to health or property, to report infestations to the local authority. Contact Sonville Environmental for effective rodent control in Edinburgh.

Owners of food businesses also have obligations to keep premises pest-free under the Food Safety Act 1990.

Environmental Health Officers or General Enforcement Officers can issue enforcement notices to business owners who don’t have adequate pest management procedures in place. If not complied with, these can lead to fines or even a stint in jail and a criminal record.

And if a company or organisation has a highly publicised mouse problem, then it will heavily impact its reputation. If clients and customers spot evidence of rodent infestation in the premises you manage, they are unlikely to want to do business with you. Several widely shared social media posts can help spread a negative image.

Types of Mice in the UK

In regards to pest management, there are two common types of mouse in the UK to be aware of:

• House mouse (Mus musculus domesticus)

• Field mouse or wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus).

If you come into contact with a mouse, chances are it’s a house mouse. Three guesses why? These mice are known as “commensal rodents,” which refers to them living with or in close proximity to humans.

Commensalism is defined as a long-term interaction in which members of one species (i.e., mice) gain benefits, while those of the other species (i.e., humans) neither benefit nor are harmed. Field mice are much more suited to nesting outdoors, but will possibly move indoors once the weather gets colder.

Habitat: How Mice Choose a Home

House mice are found in and around human structures as they rely on warmth and shelter for nesting sites, and our readily available food sources.