Many pests are just that—pests—due to the fact that they can get inside your home and reproduce at a rapid rate. This is especially true for rodents (mice, in particular), whose rapid reproduction rate can quickly turn a small mouse problem into a full-blown infestation. Mice have a life cycle that enables them to reach sexual maturity at just four or so weeks of age. Needless to say, this means just a couple of mice in your property can turn to dozens or even hundreds in a short period of time. For this reason and more, it’s imperative to learn how to keep mice away from your home in the first place. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know with the experts at Garrie Pest Control!
Mouse Reproduction Cycle
To understand how severe a rodent infestation can be, it’s important to know just how quickly mice can reproduce. It only takes a single male and female mouse to ignite an infestation. Here’s what to know:
- A young female mouse can begin mating and reproducing at just 4–6 weeks old.
- One mouse can give birth to 5 or 6 babies after just a three-week gestation period—and can do so up to 10 times a year.
- Right after giving birth to one litter, female mice can begin the cycle right over. This means mice can birth a second litter in as little as 25 days after the first.
Rodent Infestations Inside Your Property
The life cycle of a mouse makes it easy to see why these rodents are such common pests in our region. On average, mice live about a year when they live outside. However, they can live for nearly 2 or 3 years in an indoor environment. Living indoors also enables mice to breed more rapidly, as they are unable to reproduce in the winter if outdoors. Inside the comfort of your home, rodents are safe from predators like owls, hawks, and cats. This is why a small rodent problem inside your home or business can quickly become something much more serious if action isn’t taken.
Preventing Mice From Reproducing Indoors
If you don’t want mice multiplying by the dozen inside your property, you need to make your property less attractive to them in the first place! Even more important is learning how to recognize the early signs of rodents in your home—noises, droppings, and more. By stopping a small mouse problem, you can avoid the inevitable infestation. The rodent exterminators at Garrie Pest Control are happy to help by implementing the best rodent exclusion tactics. Get started today!
