(Mus musculus domesticus)
Biology:
The house mouse originates from the steppe and semi-desert regions of Central Asia, from where it was introduced to North Africa, the Mediterranean region and later to Europe in prehistoric times with the development of agriculture and trade in goods.
The house mouse has become strongly attached to humans and is primarily found in buildings. It prefers to live in dry rooms, but can adapt well to different conditions (e.g. occurrence in cold stores). It has a body length of approx. 10 cm and a tail of about the same length. As a crepuscular animal, it has large eyes and ears. The fur is dark grey to blackish on the upper side and becomes lighter grey towards the underside of the body.
Their sense of smell and touch are very well developed, and they benefit from a well-developed spatial memory for orientation. The animals are very good climbers.
House mice live in small family groups with one male and several females. A female has 5 to 8 litters in a year, each with an average of 6 young. The animals eat a varied mixed diet of plant and animal foods.
Damage:
The house mouse causes damage by eating food and contaminating it with excrement. Gnawing on objects, paper, textiles, etc. to obtain nesting material is also very important. In addition, various diseases can be transmitted through infectious excretions (feces, urine) or ingested food.
