Classification/taxonomyĪccording to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS), the taxonomy of mice is: Pet mice can live up to six years, while wild mice usually only live around 1 to 2.5 years. Females are does, males are bucks and babies are called pinkies because of their bright pink color. Mice can have a new litter of babies every three weeks. She will carry her young for 19 to 21 days and give birth to four to a dozen babies, according to the University of Florida. This is because mice nests are made from whatever the female mouse can find.Īt around 4 to seven weeks old, a female mouse will mate and have young. Mice aren't eating these items, they are chewing them into pieces that they can use to make their nests. When homes are infested with mice, humans will often find chewed up wires, books, papers and insulation around their home. They eat around 15 to 20 times per day, so they build their homes nearby places that have readily accessible food sources. In fact, if food is scarce, mice will even eat each other. They are omnivorous, which means they eat both plants and meat, and the common house mice will eat just about anything it can find. Actually, they like to eat fruits, seeds and grains. If you believe what you see in cartoons, you would think that mice eat cheese. Domestic mice are very friendly toward humans and can make good pets for older children and adults.Īccording to the RSPCA, mice are very territorial. Even domestic mice like to have a large area that they can claim as their own. Most wild mice are timid toward humans and other animals, but they are very social with other mice. This is why pet mice or house mice can be heard playing or foraging during the night. Mice are nocturnal, meaning they like to sleep during the day.

Wooden mouse house