The house mouse is the small gray rodent that slips indoors through gaps as small as a dime and breeds year-round. Small size and fast reproduction make it a persistent problem.

How to identify the House Mouse

Dusty gray to light brown, 2.5–4 inches in the body with a thin, nearly hairless tail about as long, large ears, and a pointed nose. Droppings are rice-grain sized.

Behavior & biology

Curious rather than wary, mice explore new objects readily, nest in shredded material near food, and can produce a litter every few weeks.

Why House Mouses are a problem

They contaminate far more food than they eat, gnaw packaging and wiring, and trigger allergies and asthma. A few mice become many quickly.

Signs of an infestation

Small dark droppings along walls and in drawers, gnawed packaging, nests of shredded paper or insulation, and a faint musky odor.

How we handle House Mouses in the CSRA

Canine detection finds nesting and travel routes behind cabinets and in voids so treatment is targeted — see K9 rodent detection and our rodent control program. Call 803-226-3155 to schedule. See more in our pest library.