ABC PEST CONTROL

Description: Small rodent with grey/brown fur with a length of 6.5 to 10cm including tail and weighing less than 20 grams. This type of mouse has large ears. Colour is generally uniformed with the belly being slightly lighter and the tail typically about 75% of the length of the body.

Biology: Mice are omnivorous and are good at adapting to local environments but generally in rural environments eat cereals, seeds etc, where they consume an average of 2 to 3 grams of food per day. Whilst they will drink free water they can in many cases survive without it, obtaining sufficient moisture from their food. House mice will typically live up to 2 years, reach sexual maturity in 6 weeks and can have as many as 5 to 10 litters per year consisting of 4 to 8 young.

Control: As mice feed at numerous places, the key to successful control is to have a large number of baiting points. Baits containing anticoagulants are generally effective, with a variety of formulations available including whole grain, blocks and pastes. Traps can also be an effective method of control to quickly reduce large numbers of mice and proofing / housekeeping should be considered to offer a longer-term solutions.