Mice have a very short lifespan from conception to death. After a few weeks of nursing, mouse pups will abandon their mother and embark on their quest for food.
Female mice are sexually mature and capable of bearing kids at the age of six weeks.
Mice in the wild are preyed upon by a variety of predators, ranging from birds to coyotes to snakes, reducing their life expectancy.
Mice populations can expand in locations where predators are few, causing substantial damage to the environment.
An Average Lifespan
Mice have a lifespan of from 12 to 18 months, depending on a variety of conditions. The length of a mouse’s life is determined by the presence of food, shelter, and predators.
In their natural habitat, rodents that infest a residence tend to live longer than mice.
Despite the fact that the little rodents that cause so much concern and worry for many property owners only survive for a short time, they may inflict a lot of damage.
Sadly, millions of home and business owners are faced with the costly damage that a mouse may cause in a short period of time every year. But how long do mice live?
A mouse’s lifespan varies depending on the species. The lifespan averages for several of the most common mouse species are listed below.
- House mouse (Mus musculus) – 9-12 months
- Deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) – 2-14 months
- White-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) – 12-24 months
- Western harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys megalotis) – 6-12 months
How Long Do Mice Live in the Home
House mice have evolved to live in close proximity to people. A mouse’s usual lifespan is roughly two years inside a house that provides shelter and plenty of crumbs or stored products.
The only significant hazards to the bugs’ existence are disease and humans or pets, as long as they have access to food and water.
How Long Do Mice Live in the Wild
The majority of house mice are eaten by predators in the wild. Mice are hunted by rats, snakes, and owls.
In the wild, colonies are often hampered by a lack of food or water, as well as illness and injury. A mouse’s average lifespan in this environment is often less than a year.
Pet Mouse Lifespan
A pet mouse has an average lifespan of one to two years. Pet rats and hamsters have a two- to three-year lifetime. With adequate care and decent genes, some pet mice can live up to 7 years.
Health Concerns For Pet Mouse
Mice are susceptible to respiratory infections and cancers, but their small size allows them to hide their ailments, making treatment difficult.
Taking a sick pet to the vet is always a good thing, but mice owners should be aware that medical issues are frequently urgent, and euthanasia may be necessary.
Skin and hair problems are frequent in pet mice. Skin irritation and hair loss can be caused by infection and mite infestation.
Owning a Pet Mouse Can Cause Health Issues?
The LCM, or lymphocytic choriomeningitis organism, is carried by common house mice or pet hamsters.
People can become infected by inhaling dried airborne particles of the animal’s urine, feces, or saliva, or by consuming food or dust contaminated by the rodent’s urine.
LCM can impact the brain or the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord, which is uncommon. Young adults are the ones who are most affected.
How to Avoid Illness
Keep your child away from mice and hamsters, as well as their waste, to avoid illness in young adult pet owners.
To minimize a layer of dried feces being blown into the air, cages should be cleaned on a regular basis.
Infestations of rats should be avoided, particularly in food storage facilities. If you locate rodent droppings, clean the area using a liquid disinfectant.
Conclusion
We’ve discussed how long mice live, both as pets and as wild mice, in this article.
Please keep in mind that mice can easily go out of control in a comfortable, warm environment. A single female mouse can have 80-90 offspring in her lifetime, and mice begin reproducing at the age of six weeks.
At the first sign of a rodent infestation, contact the professionals to have mice and other rodents removed.
