Mouse infestations can pose quite a big problem. Not only are these rodents dangerous and destructive, they also reproduce very quickly. When left to their own devices in an environment that provides adequate conditions, mice will grow in numbers very fast, turning into dozens or hundreds in the span of a few months. In this article, we’re going to take a look at just how fast a mouse infestation can grow.

By the numbers

One of the things that makes mouse infestations so hard to deal with is the rodents’ reproductive capacity. A female will have a gestation period of about three weeks, and it is able to get pregnant for up to 10 times per year, giving birth to as many as 14 pups each time. This means that on average, you are looking at 56 new mice each year from one female. Basically, you could be looking at a new litter of mice every 25 days. To make matters worse, a female is able to reproduce when it is six weeks old. Theoretically, you could have 5,082 mice in just one year from two mice.

The lifespan of mice

Mice also have a fairly long lifespan. Outdoors, a mouse will live for about 12 months on average, but indoors, where they have access to food, shelter, and protection from predators, mice can live for up to three years. So waiting for the mice to die out in order to get rid of an infestation is not really an option. Your best bet is to attempt to control the infestation as soon as you notice the first signs that there are mice in the home.

How to deal with mice

The best way to deal with mice is to hire a pro who will be able to remove an infestation completely in one go. The big issue with DIY when it comes to mouse infestations is that if a couple of mice manage to survive the control efforts, they will simply repopulate, and the infestation will continue. As such, it’s best to hire a pro who will have the experience needed to know how to conduct the control process, and when the entire mouse population has been removed from the home. If you would like to know more about mouse control, or if you have a mouse infestation that needs to be removed, contact us today.