Many people assume that a mouse is a mouse, but that is an oversimplification. There are many different species of mice living in Canada. While they look similar, there are subtle variations that set them apart. Various mouse species can pose unique risks, so knowing the species you are dealing with can help you know what you are up against when you call for wildlife control in Richmond Hill.

While there are many different mouse species here in Ontario, some are more common than others. Here are a few that you are most likely to encounter.

Deer Mouse

Also known as a field mouse, the deer mouse is so-called because the fur on the top of its body is a distinctive fawn colour, a kind of brownish gray. Their undersides are white, and the fur of their bodies transitions colour gradually. Deer mice are also recognizable by their two-toned tail, which is light on the bottom and darker on the top.

In the wild, deer mice gather plant material to make nests in trees or in burrows that they dig themselves. If they get into homes, they may shred paper or fabric for nesting material and make nests in attics, basements, or wall voids. Deer mouse family groups typically do not interact with one another, but deer mice cannot be said to be solitary as, like other mice species, they can reproduce every 21 days.

Deer mice are known to carry dangerous diseases that can infect humans, such as Lyme disease, babesiosis, and Ehrlichiosis. However, perhaps the biggest disease threat from deer mice is hantavirus. This is a respiratory disease with no cure and no vaccine. It causes severe symptoms that require hospitalization, and approximately one-third of all patients do not survive.

White-footed Mouse

The white-footed mouse is related to the deer mouse. Therefore, the two species look similar and are often confused with one another. The white-footed mouse tends to be shorter than the deer mouse. Like the deer mouse, the white-footed mouse has white fur on the underside, darker fur on the top of its body, and a two-coloured tail. However, the deer mouse is grayer while the white-footed mouse is more of a reddish-brown. Compared to the deer mouse, the white-footed mouse’s eyes are larger and more protuberant.

The white-footed mouse typically avoids humans due to its timid nature. When it does make a home in human habitation, it lives on the ground floor. Like the deer mouse, the white-footed mouse can carry hantavirus. It is also a reservoir for a bacterial species called Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes Lyme disease.

House Mouse

As implied by the name, the house mouse is a species that actively seeks to live close to humans. Their preferred habitat is in a home, and they are notorious for causing damage to household items such as books, clothing, and furniture. House mice are not known to carry hantavirus, but they can spread other diseases through their excrement.

The house mouse looks very different from the deer mouse and the white-footed mouse and should be fairly easy to identify. The fur of a house mouse is one colour all over its body. Its tail is as long as its body and is all one colour. Its ears are small and rounded and its eyes do not protrude from its head. House mice can give birth to litters of up to 14 babies at a time, and the babies are old enough to start breeding at around 1-1/2 to two months. Female house mice can produce up to ten litters a year, and while some house mice live alone, others prefer to live in groups.

Skedaddle Can Help With Wildlife Control in Richmond Hill

Wildlife control isn’t just for animals that are fairly large or endangered. We also perform mice removal in Richmond Hill. Learn more about our process.