Identification
Mice are light brown, black, tan, gray, and albino, depending upon the species. Their underbellies have a lighter texture than their upper bodies. Their ears and tails are covered in short hair.
Mature mice in Westchester County can weigh anywhere from 13 to 30 grams and can grow up to 20 cm in length, including the tail. Male mice are bulkier and larger than female mice.
Here are the most common species of mice that invade homes:
- Deer Mouse
The Deer Mouse has a pale greyish underbelly with a sharpish red upper body. Its tail is freakishly long, making it the mouse’s most prominent feature, and is covered in short hair.
Its preferred habitat is wooden terrain. From time to time, it takes shelter in homes and buildings that are close to a wooded area.
It causes massive damage to wooden structures and spreads several life-threatening diseases. Like most mice species, it’s a nocturnal animal, sneaking out of its nest at night to search for supplies.
Moreover, it has an exceptional ability to climb tall structures because of its incredible upper body strength. It’s one of the reasons why most of their nests are located in attics and upper floors.
- House Mouse
House mice are always on the move. They invade homes and businesses year-round. Their tails and body size are almost equal, both measuring between 75-90mm. You can quickly recognize them from their dwarfish feet and head and big eyes and ears.
They are specialists at making an extensive network of underground burrows and are also agile climbers. They love chewing on cereal and require at least 3g of food every day to survive.
- White-Footed Mouse
The White-footed mouse is smaller than other species of rodents and measures only 3.5 to 4inches, which makes it hard to spot. As it is evident from its name, it has white feet and belly. Upper body is of a greyish to auburn texture just like the tail.