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Mice

Common house mice are a nuisance; they carry diseases and can cause considerable damage. They are very active creatures and although small can cause a surprising amount of damage by chewing and by urinating on food.

Pest MiceThey will eat their way through cables, plastic, pipe work, plaster, paper, lagging, putty and many other household materials. Mice eat the same food as us, which means they pose a risk to health. Mice droppings are the size of a grain of rice.

What you can do if you discover mice

Mice can be dealt with in a number of ways:

  • Poison baits can be bought over the counter but always follow the manufacturer’s instructions
  • You can use traditional mouse traps
    OR - Call in the professionals

Aberdeenshire Council’s preferred contractor is Pro-Check Environmental Services Northern Ltd and they can be contacted on 08448 006484

How you can help prevent mice

Mice are very agile creatures and it is not always possible to keep them out of your home. Here are a few handy tips, which will help protect your home from unwanted visitors:

  • Mice can squeeze through any hole larger than 6mm so check your property regularly for any such damage and repair it with suitable materials
  • All air vents below 3m should be covered with 3mm gauge perforated zinc
  • Any gaps above 6mm e.g. around window sills and door thresholds, should be filled or covered
  • Any gaps around pipework serving meters or plumbed-in washing machines should be filled
  • Follow basic food hygiene guidelines. Don’t leave stale or mouldy food hanging around and keep food off the floor

Description

- Common name: House mouse
- Adult weight: 15 grams
- Length(head plus body): 60-90mm
- Length (tail): 80-100mm
- Fur colour: Brownish grey. Lighter shades occur
- Hearing: Excellent sense of hearing. Large ears with some hairs
- Eyes: Small eyes with poor sight and colour blind
- Habits and habitat: Sometimes burrows. Lives indoors and outdoors but is almost unknown in sewers. Nests generally in stored materials. Climbs. Erratic in habit. Inquisitive towards new objects.
- Feeding habits: Nibbles. Prefers cereals. Eats 3gm per day. Can survive without water
- Life cycle: Nine to 12 months
- Sexual maturity: Six weeks
- Litter size: 5-6 offspring
- Maximum reproduction rate: Eight litters per year