It’s easy to confuse a field mouse for a house mouse, especially when you don’t know their differences. However, learning about the differences between the two rodents can help you come up with better solutions to eliminate them during an infestation.
So what are the differences between a field mouse and a house mouse? The two rodents differ in the following:
A field mouse isn’t a specific species, and the name can refer to different types of mice. When talking about field mice in the United States, it’s usually referring to deer mice. While it’s easy to confuse a house mouse from a field mouse or deer mouse, here are some significant differences between the two that can help you identify the kind of rodent you’re dealing with:
A field mouse’s average lifespan is around one and a half years, while the house mouse lives around 2 years. However, both rodents live longer in areas that provide them with better resources so it’s why mice that are kept as pets live longer. A female mouse can have 5 to 10 litters per year, with around 6-8 babies per litter.
When they infest your home, both rodents can bring serious damage and carry a variety of illnesses that can be health hazards for you and other humans. Field mice or deer mice are known to carry hantavirus, which is a respiratory disease that can be fatal. A person can get hantavirus when they inhale the virus from infected mouse urine or droppings.
On the other hand, house mice can bring in diseases like Lymphocytic choriomeningitis and leptospirosis. Both mice can also bring in other pests like fleas and ticks into your home. These parasites can also carry other illnesses like Lyme disease, which can cause other problems.
The last factor that can help you determine whether you’re dealing with a house mouse or a field mouse is to look at the droppings and urine they leave behind. Field mice or deer mice usually have droppings with pointed ends, while house mice droppings typically resemble a grain of rice. A house mouse also tends to have urine that has a strong, ammonia-like odor.
| Characteristic | Field Mice | House Mice |
| Body | Around 3 to 4 inches long | Around 2.5 to 3.2 inches long |
| Tail | Short tails without hair | Long tails with hair |
| Fur | Have lighter coats on their underbellies that are usually light brown or gray | Coats are one color, brown or gray |
| Eating Habits | Tend to gather food and store it in their nests | Opportunistic eaters and eat almost any kind of food |
| Nesting Habits | Build their nests in hollow trees or underground during the winter | Create their nests in fields and beneath shrubs or in undisturbed places |
| Movement | Less social creatures | Explore new territory |
| Habitat | Usually found in open fields, forests, and farms | More likely to live in urban areas |
| Life Cycle | Lifespan is around 1½ years | Lifespan is around 2 years |
| Damage Caused | A known carrier of the hantavirus | Can carry diseases like Lymphocytic choriomeningitis and leptospirosis |
| Droppings and Urine | Droppings have pointed ends | Droppings typically resemble a grain of rice and urine has a strong, ammonia-like odor |
Whether you’re dealing with a field mice or a house mice infestation, the best solution to eliminate rodents in your property is to call for professional services. Positive Pest Management serves both residential and commercial properties in All of NYC and Lower Westchester County.
We have experts who are highly trained in eliminating different kinds of pests, and we’re eager to help you with your exterminating needs. Our team also creates better solutions because of our proactive communication with our clients. To know more about Positive Pest Management and the services that we offer, you may give us a call today.
