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The Mammals of Texas -
Online Edition House Mouse*
Distribution in Texas. Widely distributed over Texas, particularly in human dwellings and outbuildings. Habits. Although not native to North America the house mouse, since its early accidental introduction at most of our seaport towns, has become widespread throughout the United States and occurs either as a commensal or feral animal in practically all parts of the United States. As commensal animals, house mice live in close association with man — in his houses, outbuildings, stores, and other structures. Where conditions permit, feral mice may be found in fields, along watercourses, and in other places where vegetation is dense enough to afford concealment. These feral animals make runways through the grass similar to those of Microtus or Baiomys, or they may utilize runways made by cotton rats and other meadow-inhabiting species. In the agricultural regions where irrigation is practiced house mice often are found in the vegetation along irrigation ditches, sometimes sharing common runways with native mice. Along the Rio Grande in Texas the patches of cane often are honeycombed with the runways of these mice. At one locality along this river several hundred trap-nights yielded only house mice which suggested that these animals had evicted the native mice from the area. Although largely nocturnal, house mice are moderately active during the day, chiefly in their quest for food. In the wild they feed on a variety of plant material, including seeds, green stems, and leaves. Alfalfa hay, either in shocks or in stacks, affords an ideal source of food supply and, consequently, it is frequently infested with these mice. As commensals, house mice feed on practically any type of food suitable for the use of man or beast. They are particularly obnoxious around granaries, feed houses, and stores and may do considerable damage in destroying or contaminating food supplies intended for human consumption. In addition they will feed on such animal matter as insects and meat when available. These mice are exceedingly prolific breeders; as many as 13 litters can be produced in one year. The number of young per litter averages about six. The gestation period is approximately 19 days, varying from 18 to 20. At birth the young mice are nearly naked with their eyes and ears closed. They develop rapidly; at the age of 3 weeks they are fully weaned and at the age of 4 weeks some of the young females are ready to assume family duties, although the average age of sexual maturity is about 35 days in females and 60 days in males. With commensals, breeding occurs throughout the year although it is somewhat curtailed in the colder months. In the wild state breeding appears to be restricted to the period from early June to late fall. Although these mice are destructive when allowed to run free, they are widely used in laboratories as subjects for biological, genetic, and medical studies. When ranging free, however, they do a considerable amount of damage although they are not nearly so troublesome as the introduced rat. Mice can be controlled in houses relatively easily with snap traps. *nonnative species Photo credit: John L. Tveten, courtesy of Texas A&M University Press. |
Description. A small, scaly-tailed mouse
with a distinct notch in the cutting surface of upper
incisors (seen best in side view); hair short; ears
moderately large and naked; upperparts ochraceous,
suffused with black; belly buffy white, or buffy, usually
without speckling and with slaty underfur; yellowish
flank line usually present; tail brownish with black tip,
not distinctly bicolor, but paler on underside; ears pale
brown, feet drab or buffy, tips of toes white. Mammae in
four or five pairs. External measurements average: total
length, 169 mm; tail, 93 mm; hind foot, 18 mm. Weight of
adults, 17-25 g.