Mouse is a small animal with soft fur, a pointed snout, round black eyes, rounded ears, and a thin tail. The word mouse is not the name of any one kind of animal or family of animals. Many kinds of rodents (gnawing animals) are called mice. They include small rats, hamsters, gerbils, jerboas, lemmings, voles, harvest mice, deer mice, and grasshopper mice. All these animals have chisellike front teeth that are useful for gnawing. A rodent’s front teeth grow throughout the animal’s life. There are hundreds of kinds of mice, and they live in most parts of the world. They can be found in the mountains, in fields and woodlands, in swamps, near streams, and in deserts. Probably the best known kind of mouse is the house mouse. It lives wherever people live, and often builds its nest in homes, garages, or barns. Some kinds of white house mice are raised as pets. Other kinds are used by scientists to learn about sickness, to test new drugs, and to study behavior.
House mice probably could be found in the homes of people who lived during ancient times. Those mice probably stole the people’s food, just as mice do today. The word mouse comes from an old Sanskrit word meaning thief. Sanskrit is an ancient language of Asia, where scientists believe house mice originated. House mice spread from Asia throughout Europe. The ancestors of the house mice that now live in North and South America were brought there by English, French, and Spanish ships during the 1500′s.
House mice always seem to be busy. Those that live in buildings may scamper about day or night. House mice that live in fields and forests usually come out only at night. All house mice climb well and can often be heard running between the walls of houses.
A house mouse has a small head and a long, narrow snout. Several long, thin whiskers grow from the sides of the snout. These whiskers, like those of a cat, help the mouse feel its way in the dark. The animal has rounded ears, and its eyes look somewhat like round black beads. A mouse can hear well, but it has poor sight. Probably because house mice cannot see well, they may enter a lighted room even if people are there.
Like all other rodents, mice have strong, sharp front teeth that grow throughout the animal’s life. With these chisellike teeth, mice can gnaw holes in wood, tear apart packages to get at food inside, and damage books, clothing, and furniture. Food. A house mouse eats almost anything that human beings eat. It feeds on any meat or plant materials that it can find. Mice also eat such household items as glue, leather, paste, and soap. House mice that live out of doors eat insects, and the leaves, roots, seeds, and stems of plants. Mice always seem to be looking for something to eat, but they need little food. They damage much more food than they eat.
Homes. House mice live wherever they can find food and shelter. Any dark place that is warm and quiet makes an excellent home for mice. A mouse may build its nest in a warm corner of a barn, on a beam under the roof of a garage, or in a box stored in an attic or basement. The animal may tear strips of clothing or upholstery to get materials for its nest. It may line the nest with feathers or cotton stolen from pillows. House mice that live in fields or woodlands dig holes in the ground and build nests of grass inside. They may line the nests with feathers or pieces of fur.
Young. A female house mouse may give birth every 20 to 30 days. She carries her young in her body for 18 to 21 days before they are born. She has four to seven young at a time. Newborn mice have pink skin and no fur, and their eyes are closed. They are completely helpless. Soft fur covers their bodies by the time they are 10 days old. When they are 14 days old, their eyes open. Young mice stay near the nest for about three weeks after birth. Then they leave to build their own nests and start raising families. Most female house mice begin to have young when they are about 45 days old.
