Field Mice

What do field mice look like?

Field mice, also commonly called deer mice, share the coloration of a deer. They are tawny (orangish-brown) on the top and white on the underbelly. They are usually 3 to 4 inches long, with tails that almost double their length. Field mice have pink feet, perky ears, black eyes, and conical noses like all mice.

Are field mice and house mice the same?

No. Field mice and house mice are different. House mice are well adapted to living indoors. In fact, they prefer it. Field mice do not. They like living outdoors in forests and fields. For this reason, they’re not common urban pests, but they can move into semi-urban areas, particularly near parks and forested areas.

What attracts field mice to my property?

These robust rodents are attracted to properties that feel like their natural habitat. They’re drawn to:

• Tall grass
• Overgrown vegetation
• Weeds
• Brush piles
• Stacked wood
• Leaf litter
• Logs
• Puddles
• Seeds
• Nuts
• Fruit
• Bugs

When they come onto a property, they may seek shelter in sheds and outbuildings when temperatures drop.

How do field mice get inside?

These mice take advantage of small gaps. An adult mouse can squeeze through a thin gap the diameter of a dime. They’ll exploit poor seals around doors, windows, wires, and pipes and chew through decaying wood.

Is it bad to have field mice in my home?

Having field mice in any structure on your property is not good. Here are a few reasons why:

• Field mice are linked to the spread of hantavirus, which can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome
• Like other rodents, they chew on building materials and stored items
• They soil insulation and stored items with droppings and urine
• Field mice can contaminate food storage areas

If you notice rodent activity in your home, immediately take action. 

How do I know if I have field mice?

When field mice live on your property, they can be sneaky about it. Here are a few ways you may tell that you have a problem:

• Activity: Field mice prefer nighttime activity, but you may notice one at dawn or dusk.
• Droppings: These animals leave their tiny, black feces where they live and everywhere they explore.
• Damage: Field mice chew on wood and other building materials, creating holes and gnaw marks.
• Nest: Field mice build nests from leaves, grass, and bark strips, as well as man-made materials, such as cotton, foam, and insulation.
• Tracks: Field mice can leave tracks when they scamper across soil or mud.
• Noises: You might hear scratching and other sounds when field mice infest wall voids and ceilings.

How do professionals address a field mouse infestation?

Four Seasons Pest Control, a locally owned and operated pest control company serving Danville and surrounding areas and North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad region, offers effective pest control services for field mice, other rodents, and house-infesting insects. Our year-round home pest control plan protects against nuisance and potentially damaging pests. Contact us today for more information!

How do I prevent field mice?

To deter field mice and other rodents, we recommend the following tips:

• Remove bird feeders
• Clean up fallen fruit underneath trees
• Stored foods inside airtight containers
• Keep trash covered (inside and outside)
• Remove branches, leaves, and other organic debris
• Trim back tree branches and other landscaping so they don’t touch the structure
• Repair damaged spigots, pipes, and sprinklers
• Address other plumbing issues and moisture problems
• Seal holes on the exterior of the house