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Description: The house mouse originally inhabited Central Asia and has bee repeatedly introduced into North America and throughout the world. It can be distinguished from other Kansas rodents by: 1) light brownish-gray to buffy upperparts, 2) slightly more yellowish sides, contrasting little with upper or underparts, 3) nearly hairless tail with scaly annulations, and 4) upper incisors with notched occlusal surfaces, but lacking grooves on the front surface. Young are grayer than adults and have softer fur. There is a skin gland in the anal region. Sexes are alike.
Size: Adults may attain the following dimensions: total length 130-198 mm; tail 63-102 mm; hind foot 16-21 mm; ear 11-18 mm; weight 19-25 grams.
Range and Habitat:
| The house mouse is distributed throughout Kansas. The subspecific status of this rodent in the state cannot be determined because of repeated introductions and cross-breeding. |  |
Reproduction: The house mouse breeds throughout the year. Females are capable of breeding as early as 28 days after they are born. After a gestation period of 18 to 21 days, up to twelve naked, altricial young are born with their eyes closed. In ten days they are furred and four days later their eyes open. In three weeks the young are weaned and shortly thereafter leave the female. Females have five pairs of nipples.
Habits: The house mouse is gregarious. In summer some become independent of human habitation and live in fields. In autumn many return to buildings but some remain in the fields throughout the year, using runways and excavations made by native rodents. They are usually nocturnal, but can be active during the day. Nests are made of available soft materials and are placed in protected areas. Fecal droppings are placed almost anywhere and are good indictors of presence and abundance of the mouse in a building.
Food: The house mouse is highly omnivorous. It is especially harmful to stored food stocks such as produce and grains.
Remarks: Hawks, owls, snakes, skunks and cats are the principal predators of the house mouse. This mouse has been developed into hundreds of laboratory strains, is used extensively in research, and is frequently kept as a pet. Maximum longevity of this rodent is 12 to 18 months in the wild, but it lives as long as six years in captivity.