Okanagan Wildlife Control: Do Mice Sweat?

Mice are notorious for coming into houses and buildings during the fall to seek shelter from the wintry weather. Therefore, you are most likely to have to call wildlife control in Okanagan for mice removal when the weather is cold. However, this doesn't mean you can let your guard down during the summer months. Mice are not very tolerant to hot weather either, and they may also seek shelter indoors when warm temperatures exceed their comfort levels. 

Do Mice Sweat?

Mice do not have the same mechanisms for regulating their body temperatures that human beings have. When we get too hot, our bodies produce sweat that cools us as it evaporates. However, like many fur-bearing mammals, mice do not have sweat glands, so they cannot cool themselves off in this manner. Mice also cannot cool themselves off by panting, as dogs and some other animals do. 

What Do Mice Do To Cool Themselves Down?

If the temperature gets too hot for a mouse, it will start drinking water. Water that is cool may help to reduce the mouse's temperature, but regardless of the temperature of the water, mice drink to prevent dehydration, which can cause serious illness.  Research has shown that mice have cells in their brains that act as a refrigerator. When the temperature gets too hot, these cells activate and send signals to the body to lower the body's metabolism. This causes a decrease in the mouse's core temperature, helping to prevent overheating. While this is going on, the mouse also decreases its activity so as to avoid raising its body temperature through exertion. 

How Hot Is Too Hot for a Mouse?

The mechanisms that mice have built into their bodies to regulate their temperatures are effective up to a point. However, because they cannot sweat and they do not pant, they cannot withstand the same heat levels that dogs and humans can. The hotter the temperature gets, the more uncomfortable it is for mice, and if the temperature reaches 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit), they may be in danger of overheating. 

What Happens When a Mouse Overheats?

High temperatures put mice at risk for heat illness. This can progress in mice similar to the way it does in humans, from heat stress, to heat exhaustion, to heat stroke. When a mouse becomes overheated, its tongue may turn a bright red color where it is normally sort of gray. The saliva may become thicker and the mouse may slobber or drool. An overheated mouse may have difficulty breathing. An advanced case of heat stroke may cause the mouse to go into convulsions. Ultimately, heatstroke can be fatal in mice. It is a slow and agonizing death.

Do Mice Seek Shelter From the Heat?

If the heat is too much for a mouse and its mechanisms for body temperature regulation are not working, it may seek shelter from the heat as it would from the cold. If your home has air conditioning, mice may sense the cool air coming from the vents, from gaps around windows, or wherever it can escape from. If a mouse senses that the temperature inside is colder than outside, it may find a way to get inside to cool down. It shouldn't be too hard for a mouse to find its way in since mice can squeeze through holes that seem impossibly small.  Even if you don't have air conditioning, mice may be drawn to the basement of your home, which is usually several degrees cooler than outside or the upper level(s) of the home. Once inside, if they find easy access to food and water, they may stay indefinitely. 

Call Skedaddle Right Away for Wildlife Control in Okanagan

Mice removal needs to take place as soon as their presence is discovered to prevent a large-scale infestation. Find out more about the thorough process that we use to resolve your mouse problem humanely.