If you’re like most people, when you see a mouse in your home, your next thought might be, “Get it out!” You might not stop to think about what kind of mouse you’re seeing, but maybe you should. By understanding which type of mouse is in your home, you can gain insight into why it’s there, how you can get it out, and what you can do to try to prevent the next infestation.
Three types of mice in South Carolina are most common and account for most infestations in homes and businesses: the deer mouse, house mouse, and white-footed mouse. Next time you see a mouse on your property, here are some tips on how to tell them apart.
Deer Mouse
(Peromyscus maniculatus)
Similar to their namesake, the white-tailed deer, deer mice prefer to live outdoors in peaceful wooded environments. But they go where resources and shelter are found, which means that sometimes they cross over into homes, sheds, and businesses that are located near wooded areas.
Once inside, deer mice can be destructive to wooden structures, and like other mouse species, they’re a potential health hazard, carrying different types of germs and disease.
Appearance
- Size: Full-size deer mice range from 2 ¾” to 4” in length
- Weight: Approximately 0.4 – 1.25 oz
- Coloring: Mostly pale gray fur with occasional red-brown on top and side. Their undersides are usually white fur
- Tail: Bicolored with dark on top and white below, approximately 2” to 5” long, and covered with tiny hairs
Life Cycle
- Deer mice live on average between 2 and 14 months in the wild, but in captivity they have been observed to live 5 to 8 years
- Gestation period is usually only about three weeks. Females can have 2 to 4 litters per year, each with 3 to 5 babies
- Mice can begin reproducing as soon as they’re 7 to 8 weeks old
Habits
- Deer mice are nocturnal, coming out at night to find food
- They are excellent climbers and will be found in even upper levels of structures like in attics and upper floors
- During colder months, deer mice will seek shelter and warmth, often inside buildings
- Deer mice are one of the leading carriers of the hantavirus, which can be very dangerous to humans
House Mouse
(Mus musculus)
House mice are typically what people think of when asked to picture a mouse. Many house mice go their entire lives outdoors without stepping foot into a house, but these rodents are opportunistic, so if there are houses nearby they will often go inside searching for resources.
House mice are active all year. Infestations often become more common in late fall to winter because it gets cold and mice seek warm shelter. They’re also not shy about invading businesses in addition to houses.
Appearance
- Size: Body is approximately 2 ¾” to 3 ¾” in length with small feet and head
- Weight: Approximately 0.4 to 1.1 oz
- Body: Their relatively small feet and head, coupled with their large eyes and ears distinguish them from a young brown rat
- Coloring: They can range from gray to brown
- Tail: House mice have tails that are approximately the same length as their bodies
Lifecycle
- House mice have 7 to 8 litters of young per year; each litter can have 4 to 16. Yes, they reproduce fast!
- The gestation period is about 3 weeks
- House mice reach reproductive maturity in about 8 to 12 weeks
Habits
- House mice like to stay close to food sources they discover and will make their nests in these areas. That’s why they often turn into permanent tenants in houses
- They will eat a wide range of foods but their preference is grains, fruits, and seeds
- Each mouse eats around .1 oz. of food per day. They will drink up to .1 fluid oz. per day if their diet or environment is dry
White-Footed Mouse
(Peromyscus leucopus)
White-footed mice are found all along the eastern seaboard from Maine to Georgia, including here in South Carolina. While they really do prefer to make their habitats in wooded environments, they may try to come inside during periods where resources are scarce or the weather is unfriendly.
Appearance
- Size: Body is approximately 3 ½ to 4 inches in length.
- Weight: These mice generally weigh around .75 oz.
- Coloring: It’s not their feet that are white – so is the belly. The rest of the fur will be grayish to reddish-brown
- Tail: Their tails are slightly shorter than other common mice in South Carolina, reaching about 2 ½” to 3.8” long
Lifecycle
- White-footed mice have 2 to 4 litters per year, each with 2 to 6 young
- The gestation period is about three to five weeks
- White-footed mice will typically begin reproducing when they reach 10 to 11 weeks old
Habits
- White-footed deer infestations often happen in buildings near forests and brushlands or bordering agricultural land
- Seek out safe and concealed areas for nests
- Their preferred diet is based on fruits, nuts, seeds, and small insects
- If frightened, they may drum their front feet
Got a Mouse Problem in South Carolina?
If you’re dealing with a mouse problem in your home or business and you want them gone ASAP, there’s no better choice than our rodent control team! Our experienced technicians will get to the bottom of your problem – from eliminating the active infestation to helping you prevent future ones.
See why we’ve been South Carolina’s trusted rodent control provider since 1972 – call Gregory Pest Solutions now for a free estimate.
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