Can Mice See In The Dark?

Before we even address the issue bore in the question, it is essential to know that no creature can see in the dark. To see an object, light needs to come from a source to the item and then bounce off to your eye. So, can mice see in the dark? The answer is no.

In terms of activeness, mice are usually up and running during night-time since they are nocturnal critters. They sleep during the daytime, so it is super hard to detect them when the sun is shining. It takes a lot of time before they are noticed unless they keep delivering their droppings haphazardly. Since mice are active during the night, it is scientifically accurate to say that they are specially adapted to thrive in the darksome night. Their various adaptations enable them to hide away unnoticed in walls, furniture, storage boxes, and crawl spaces. Over a period, many mice will accumulate, thereby causing a lot of damage to the house’s structural integrity.

Now, we should know what makes it possible for rodents to see at night. Are there any special skills they have? First, mice cannot see well in any form of lighting. Compared to humans, mice have low vision. If mice were people, they would be considered blind.

Although mice have a form of blindness, their eyes have particular adaptations that help them survive during the night. A study found that the eyes of a mouse can detect motion in dim light. This means that mice have an edge on predators who could be looking for them during the night. But that doesn’t suffice in explaining why the mice are so good at moving around at night. So, how do the mice get around without bumping into tables and walls?

Mice 101: How Whiskers Help Mice To Cut Through The Night

Many nocturnal rodents like mice and rats have whiskers. These are rows of long hairs that are particular adaptations to take care of the night-time movement. Each whisker (as they are usually not many of them) is reined in by a group of muscles that allow each row to move around independently.

In each of the whiskers, there is a follicle at the base. The follicle is packed with receptors that detect touch, also known as mechanoreceptors. When any row of any whisker brushes or comes into contact with an object, a signal is sent back to the brain. The reaction to that signal is that the mouse will change its direction of movement.

If you spy on a mouse at night, you will see it swishing its whiskers repeatedly in a back-and-forth motion. This form of behavior is known as whisking, and it allows the mouse to detect objects that are nearby and feel what is happening around them. This way, both mice and rats can always navigate obstacles during the night without using their eyes at all.

Mice 101: How Noses Help Mice To Cut Through The Night

Apart from whisking, mice engage in another behavior that helps them get around in the darksome night, and the behavior is known as sniffing. Mice and rats always sniff as they move around their space. Since mice have a brilliant sense of smell, they use sniffing to avoid predators, including you. 

Mice In The House: Questions & Answers

Mice can penetrate tight spaces and get into homes. Once they do, they become a great menace: they contaminate food, spread disease, and damage. To get rid of the tiny rodent critters, you need to know what they like and understand what they do. The best DIY method of controlling, containing, and eradicating a mouse problem is by trapping and removing them. Going for mice poisoning puts both pets and children at risk. On the other end of the gamut, failing to deal with a mouse problem in the house (in the name of being humane) may lead to an exponential rise in the number of mice. These vast numbers will then need a professional exterminator who may charge you a fortune. In other words, trapping, killing, and relocating mice are probably the most humane things to do. The bottom line is that the infestation has to be taken care of without compromise.

This section will explore some common questions surrounding mice and their being in the house. Each item is answered correctly to make your extermination work very easy. Read on.

1. How Can You Know If There Are Any Mice In Your House?

While the most apparent sign is seeing a dead or an alive mouse, there are other tell-tale signs. The signs mentioned here will help you to know if you have a mouse infestation problem:

1. Gnawed holes in pile papers, insulation, stored foods, etc

2. Food wrapping or scraps that have been left behind, especially in places that are out of the way like inside shoes or in boots

3. Tiny hairs or droppings

4. Narrow pathways (or runways) where dirt and dust seem to have been swept clean. Also, you may see some urine trails or grease marks under a black light.

5. Piled nesting materials or actual nests

6. Scratching and skittering sounds coming from behind the wall, floor cavities, or the ceiling.

7. Musty, rank, or stale odors

2. How Can You Know If There Are Mice And Not Rats?

To establish this, you first need to know the critical differences between rats and mice. While rats are giant, mice are much smaller critters. An adult mouse does not grow any longer than 7.5 inches, inclusive of the tail. In the US, the most common rats are the roof rats and the Norway rats, which are 14 – 16 inches long, and their tails usually vary by species.

3. What Is The Life Span Of A Mouse?

A house mouse cannot survive for more than a year if it runs into the wild. However, if it is in a safe environment (away from its natural predators) and with constant water and food supply, it can live to celebrate its third birthday.

4. Do You Keep Finding Black Rice-Like Things Or Shredded Paper?

If you have come across shredded papers, you are likely to have found a mouse’s nest. Mice usually build their nests from just about any finely shredded paper or soft material. The black rice-like things are, without doubt, mouse droppings.

5. Where Is The Ideal Place For Putting Mouse Traps?

The place to place (get it?) mouse traps should be where the mice keep crisscrossing. If you have found even the littlest signs of mice, such as urine stains, shredded cloth or papers, gnawed items, or even droppings, place the traps in those places.

You can get traps from the garden and home stores, or even from grocery shops. While many of them are reusable, others can only be used once, especially if they intend to hide the trapped mouse from being viewed.

6. What If The Mice Traps Fail To Work?

As you may already know, mice are pretty curious and will always look at new things. If the traps are not as effective and haven’t caught any mice with the first few days of placement, you can either do one of the following:

a) Change the position of the trap. It may be in a place that the mice don’t frequent.

b) Also, you can change the bait that is on the trap. Ensure that it is something with a strong scent, something that is likely to invite the mice into the snap of the trap. 

7. What Is The Best Item To Use As Bait In Mouse Traps?

Contrary to the prevalent belief, cheese is not among the best baits to use in mouse traps. While peanut butter is a lovely thing for mice, it needs to be replaced because it is likely to become too hard or too dry. Other good bait options are nuts, bacon, sticky candies, and dried food. You should ensure that the bait is attached securely to the trap trigger. This way, the rodent will not pluck it off and crawl away. More often than not, a small scoop of peanut butter works well, but it is better if you put it in a cup or crevices of the trap. It will be more effective that way. Since the smell of the bait attracts the mice, they will try as hard to take the bait out of the cup. This will set off the trap and snap the life out of them.

8. Why Am I Not Seeing Any Mice?

As mentioned elsewhere in this article, mice are more active at night than when the sun is shining. As you may have already established, bright light usually scares them away. The only time a mouse can appear during the day is when seeking food, or its nest is disturbed. Also, seeing mice crawling all over could mean a more extensive infestation is in your house.

9. What Is The Frequency Of Mice Breeding?

In a year, a single female can mate around ten times. If each mating and breeding is successful, she will deliver between five and six kit mice. This means that a sexually mature female can deliver 60 mouse babies. The 60 offspring only need around six weeks to achieve sexual maturity. Then, they will start having babies of their own. Within a few months, the population of mice will grow exponentially. The figures will be too high, and you may need to call in an exterminator.

Whatever Attracts Mice

As we pen off this article, it is essential to know what brings mice into your home. Essentially, mice share their basic need with humans. While they may not need clothes, they will appreciate the comfort, food, and shelter provided. If your house makes these things readily available for the rodents, they will take every chance they get to ensure that they stick around your business or your home. Here are the four things that attract mice, and something brief about them:

Whatever Attracts Mice
Thing	Something Brief
Warmth	Mice need a place that will accommodate their warm-bloodedness.
Food	Mice are frequent eaters and need a constant supply of food.
Clutter	Areas that are not in order or frequented are the best for mice to nest.
Openings and Cracks	Mice love tight spaces so much.

Now, let’s look at each thing extensively:

1. Warmth

When temperatures start falling during late fall, mice will likely begin to seek warmth. To detect if a building is warm or not, the mice will use the wall’s openings. Then, they will penetrate the structure and start rolling out their permanent residence plan. If there are any water heaters, the mice will choose spots nearby as nesting spots. 

2. Food

The lure of food is irresistible to mice. If you have any leftover scraps, freshly-cooked meals, or food debris in your home or office, the mice will naturally get pulled towards your place. This usually causes a lot of headache for the restaurant industry.

However, treats from the kitchen aren’t the only things that mice eat. Some equally appealing snacks include paper, cardboard, and electrical wiring.

3. Clutter

Since mice love nesting and burrowing, you will find them looking for cluttered areas to make their home. So, any place that gives them space to hide and provides warmth will fit the bill. And as the clutter builds up, it becomes more challenging to clean. This is an excellent encouragement for rodents to burrow.

In homes, the places that are likely to be cluttered include attics, small storage spaces, and attics. Since pieces of firewood can attract rodents, do not store them up against the walls or directly on the floor. In those places, the pieces can provide easy rodent access.

4. Openings And Cracks

Remember that office window that never got patched up or that screen door you never bothered to get fixed? Well, those are some openings that create an open invitation for all the mice. So, be sure to seal and cover wall cracks, fill any vents or holes, and patch up any foundations where a mouse can gain entry. Of importance is that you remember this: although many things attract mice, there are just as many ideas you can employ to keep them away.