“Brown mice” typically refer to the common house mouse (Mus musculus). These small rodents, characterized by their pointed snout, large ears, and long, nearly hairless tail, often live near humans. Despite their size, house mice pose significant dangers to homes.
Health Concerns
House mice transmit pathogens to humans through droppings, urine, and saliva. Hantavirus, for example, causes Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), a severe respiratory illness. Humans contract Hantavirus by inhaling airborne particles from dried mouse waste or nesting materials.
Salmonellosis, a bacterial disease, typically leads to digestive issues like cramping, fever, and diarrhea when mice contaminate food or surfaces. Leptospirosis, another bacterial infection, transmits through contact with mouse urine-contaminated water or soil, potentially causing kidney or liver damage.
Mice can also carry Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis (LCM), a viral infection causing neurological problems. Direct bites, though uncommon, can transmit diseases like rat-bite fever. Allergens from mouse dander and waste can trigger asthma and allergic reactions.
Damage to Property
Mice cause extensive damage through continuous gnawing, a necessity due to their constantly growing teeth. This behavior leads them to chew through materials like electrical wires, creating fire hazards from exposed wires and short circuits.
They also gnaw on pipes, wooden structures, and insulation, compromising structural integrity and reducing efficiency. Mice damage personal items like furniture, books, and stored belongings. Nesting habits involve shredding materials like insulation, contributing to damage and creating odors from accumulated waste.
Mice contaminate food preparation surfaces, stored food, and pantry items with droppings and urine, leading to spoilage and rendering food unsafe. Their presence can also leave a lingering urine odor.
Minimizing Risks
Preventative measures mitigate risks from brown mice. Sealing entry points is a primary step, as mice can squeeze through openings as small as a quarter-inch. Inspect and seal cracks in foundations, gaps around utility pipes, and openings near windows and vents using materials like steel wool, caulk, or hardware cloth.
Proper food storage is another defense. Keep all food, including pet food, in airtight containers made of glass, metal, or thick plastic to prevent access and reduce attractive scents. Maintain cleanliness by promptly cleaning crumbs and spills, and storing trash in tightly sealed bins to remove potential food sources. Reduce clutter in basements, attics, and garages to eliminate potential nesting sites.
If an infestation is present, use traps, including humane options, for removal. For significant infestations or ineffective DIY methods, professional pest control services are often needed. When cleaning contaminated areas, take precautions:
Ventilate the space.
Wear rubber or plastic gloves.
Spray droppings and urine with a disinfectant solution (e.g., 1 part bleach to 9 parts water) before wiping them up with paper towels.
Never sweep or vacuum dry droppings, as this can aerosolize harmful particles.