(Mus musculus )
  These familiar pests often go unnoticed if only a few are present, but may cause significant damage when their numbers are large. In addition to gnawing on clothing, furniture, and other items, mice contaminate food with their urine and droppings, and may spread parasites and diseases. Mice are generally active at night. Under ideal conditions, the females produce up to 50 young in a year. Mice are very agile, and can jump as high as 12 inches off the ground, run up almost any rough vertical surface, swim, and squeeze through openings slightly larger than ¼ inch. House mice feed primarily on cereal grains, but will eat many other kinds of food including butter, fat, meat, sweets, and nuts.
Apply anticoagulant bait or a bait consisting of cereal grains treated with cholecalciferol (vitamin D-3), a new generation rodenticide. This bait is safer to use around pets and other domestic animals than anticoagulant baits. The bait is contained in packets that should be placed in the same areas in which traps would be placed, but out of the reach of children and pets. Another way to eliminate mice in the home is to trap them. Mice are more likely to seek bait in traps if their normal source of food is scarce. Remove food from areas where mice can get to it, and store grains in sealed metal, glass, or heavy plastic containers. Place traps where mouse droppings, gnawings, and damage indicate the presence of mice. These include such areas as behind refrigerators and other protective objects, in dark corners, along baseboards, and in cupboards. Bait the traps with pieces of bacon, nutmeats, raisins, or peanut butter. Tie the bait to the trigger so the mouse won't be able to remove the bait without springing the trap. Check the traps daily to dispose of trapped mice. Wear gloves when handling dead mice, or use tongs to pick them up to avoid bites from mouse parasites. If you are unable to eliminate all the mice, contact a professional pest control operator. After the mice have been eliminated, prevent them from returning by sealing holes or cracks larger than ¼ inch in walls, floors, windows, doors, and areas of the foundation that open to the outside. For details on mouse-proofing your home, contact your local Cooperative Extension Office. (For a list of extension offices, see List of County Extension Agents.)