Field Mice Identification Guide

What are field mice?

Field mice are small rodents with beige, brown, or reddish-brown fur, with bodies around 4 inches long and tails that range from 2-3.5 inches in length. Field mice in New Haven are omnivorous rodents, eating seeds, young plants, buds, mushrooms, root vegetables and berries they come across. They also eat insects, snails, and earthworms.

Field mice are common across New England and mate at a high rate, so even a few inside your home can quickly turn into a serious infestation if you don’t take adequate steps to stop them.

Are field mice dangerous?

Like all rodents, mice can be host to a number for harmful diseases, and the presence of biological elements like their droppings, urine, and fur can lead to conditions that spread disease or cause allergic reactions in some people. Two notable viruses field mice carry include hantaviruses and Lyme disease. 

Why do I have a mice problem?

Like most rodents, field mice are nocturnal. So even if you have an infestation, it's likely you won't see a mouse in the daytime. You may, however, notice signs of mice in your home such as droppings or rub marks on your walls or baseboards.  

Like any other animal, field mice are constantly on the search for food, water, and a warm place to rest. These resources are all available in large quantities inside your home but, can be particularly appealing to mice in the winter months.

In the wild, field mice primarily sustain themselves on seeds that have fallen to the ground as well as small insects they can find. If you’ve left out food or made it easily available in your unsealed trash cans, don’t be surprised if field mice find a way into your home. They may even chew small holes to create additional entry points.

Where are field mice commonly found?

In the wild, field mice are natural burrowers, building nests inside plants and structures they come across. This often means inside hollow logs or dead trees, inside wood piles, and around piles of plant debris. Burrows are generally constructed under boards, brush, logs, or rocks the mice find in the wilderness. In the winter, field mice will create nests beneath the surface of snow.

Field mice are commonly found around homes after having caused damage and feeding on the roots and leaves of plants found nearby. When field mice come indoors, they are often found by observing the small runways they construct in the attic, basement, and crawl space(s).

If you have a field mouse infestation, you’ll likely be alerted to it through a number of indicators, including torn up insulation, scratching noises coming from inside the walls at night, and other insect infestations as a result of mice tirelessly hoarding food they find within your home. 

How can I prevent field mice from getting into my home?

Unfortunately, in the winter months, almost every home will appeal to field mice looking for food, water, and shelter. However, you can mitigate your risk for field mice as much as possible by:

• Keeping garbage stored outdoors in sealed containers
• Cleaning up indoor spills immediately as they happen
• Keeping your home clean and vacuuming regularly
• Fixing any leaking pipes or other humidity problems in the home
• Cleaning dirty dishes after use or storing in the dishwasher
• Keeping food in sealed containers and refrigerated if possible, including pet food
• Keeping your yard free of clutter that mice could use to nest
• Installing metal screens on windows, doors, and on any exterior vents
• Inspecting your home’s exteriors for any holes and sealing up those you find
• Placing weatherstripping under doors and windows
• Sealing holes where wires, cables, or pipes enter the house
• Cutting back shrubs and trees so that they are well away from the exterior of the home

How do I get rid of field mice?

Removing mice from your home is not as simple as trapping all of the mice inside and removing them. There are a number of potential health hazards that come with a mouse infestation stemming from the things they leave behind in their nests, such as urine, droppings, and hair.

For the best results, don’t fight your rodent problem alone; trust the rodent exclusion experts at Connecticut Pest Elimination, Inc. to eliminate your rodent problem completely and sanitize your home against harmful elements the mice left behind. No matter what rodent your home may be facing, the residential and commercial pest experts at Connecticut Pest Elimination can help you take your home back and keep it protected for the future.