Mammal · GBIF taxon 7429082
House Mouse
Mus musculusAlso known as Common House Mouse, Domestic Mouse, Laboratory Mouse
House mice thrive in close proximity to human settlements, building hidden nests behind walls, under floorboards, and inside agricultural stores. They communicate using complex ultrasonic vocalizations and mark territorial boundaries with scent trails. Unusually high reproductive potential allows a single pair to produce dozens of offspring each year, enabling rapid colonization of new environments.
NocturnalSynanthropicMammal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Cereal Grains
- Grass Seeds
- Beetles
Predators
- Domestic Cat
- Barn Owl
- Corn Snake
ThreatsPest control measures, rodenticide poisoning, and heavy predation
HabitatsUrban areas, residential buildings, farmland, grasslands, and suburban habitats
Life span1–3 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderRodentia
- FamilyMuridae
- GenusMus
- SpeciesMus musculus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskModerate
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is moderate
- Can transmit pathogens through urine and droppings; avoid handling wild mice directly.
- Why it is dangerous
- Carries bacterial pathogens such as Salmonella and Leptospira, which spread via contaminated dust, urine, or saliva.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for a dull grey to brown coat, a pointed snout, large rounded ears, and a scaly, nearly hairless tail.
- What to do
- Never touch wild rodents with bare hands; set snap or live traps rather than attempting physical capture.
Responsible observation
- Storage: Keep dried grains and pet food in airtight glass or metal containers to block access.
- Observation: Look along indoor baseboards at night, as they move along walls to remain concealed.
- Sanitation: Wear protective gloves and a mask when cleaning areas contaminated by mouse droppings.
Competitor (c) Martin Cooper, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Predator (c) chloe ⋆˚꩜｡, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative
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