# House Mouse (*Mus musculus*) House mice are small, furry animals that love to explore. They have big ears and long tails, and they often live in homes and gardens, making them fun to watch! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 7 - **Habitat:** Urban areas - **Also known as:** Common Mouse, Field Mouse ![House Mouse](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424404/objects/950.jpg) ## Appearance The House Mouse has soft, brownish-grey fur with a lighter belly, distinguishing it from shrews with their pointed snouts. It features relatively large ears and a thin, scaly tail that is almost as long as its body. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Muridae - **Genus:** Mus ## Interesting facts - A single female House Mouse can have over 50 babies in just one year! - House Mice are surprisingly good swimmers, even holding their breath for a short time! - House Mice can jump over 30 cm high, which is truly amazing! - House Mice's teeth never stop growing; they must gnaw constantly to keep them short! ## Special abilities - **Super Squeezer:** House Mice can squeeze through incredibly tiny gaps, as small as a pencil width, because of their flexible skeletons. - **Whisper Talker:** House Mice communicate using high-frequency ultrasonic squeaks that humans cannot hear, helping them stay hidden. - **Rapid Reproducer:** House Mice have a very fast breeding cycle, producing many litters yearly that helps their populations grow quickly. - **Night Navigator:** House Mice have an incredible sense of smell and hearing that helps them find food and avoid danger in darkness. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 7-10 cm - **Weight:** 0.012-0.03 kg - **Lifespan:** 1-2 years - **Speed:** 13 km/h - **Litter Size:** 5-6 - **Gestation:** 19-21 days ## Diet & Feeding Tiny munchers that eat almost anything, from seeds to crumbs and even insects! - **Primary Foods:** seeds, grains, fruit, insects, cereals, human food scraps - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Domestic Cat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/domestic-cat) (*Felis catus*) — Cats are common predators of House Mice. - **Eaten by:** [Barn Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/barn-owl) (*Tyto alba*) — Barn Owls frequently hunt House Mice for food. - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — Red foxes prey on House Mice in rural and urban areas. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Scavenger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/scavenger): Scavengers consume dead organic matter, helping to decompose carcasses and other waste in the ecosystem. - [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding. - [Domesticated](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/domesticated): Domesticated refers to species that have been selectively bred and tamed by humans for specific purposes. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you see a mouse, it's best to leave it alone and tell an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify House Mouse? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is House Mouse? 7-10 cm ### How much does House Mouse weigh? 0.012-0.03 kg ### How long does House Mouse live? 1-2 years ### How fast can House Mouse move? 13 km/h ### What does House Mouse eat? Tiny munchers that eat almost anything, from seeds to crumbs and even insects! ### Where is House Mouse usually found? Urban areas ### How does House Mouse hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Brandon Road Lock and Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brandon-road-lock-and-dam) — Illinois, US · Historic Site - [Sauganash Trail](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sauganash-trail) — Illinois, US · Trail - [Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/omahas-henry-doorly-zoo-and-aquarium) — Nebraska, US · Aquarium - [Rosamond Gifford Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rosamond-gifford-zoo) — New York, US · Zoo - [Ladew Topiary Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ladew-topiary-gardens) — Maryland, US · Botanical Garden - [Lowell Commercial Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lowell-commercial-historic-district) — Indiana, US · Historic District [View all places to see House Mouse](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/house-mouse) ## Watch - [Play video: House Mouse](https://www.snappit.app/videos/house-mouse) - [YouTube](https://youtube.com/watch?v=-uyetRqoYJI) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [House Mouse: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-mouse)