Expert Montreal Pest Solutions

Montreal Pest Directory

Mouse (House Mouse, Deer Mouse)

Scientific Name:

• Mus musculus (House Mouse)

• Peromyscus maniculatus (Deer Mouse)

Also known as:

• Field mouse - Barn mouse- Grey mouse

What Are Mice?

Mice are small, agile rodents that thrive in both urban and rural environments. The house mouse is the most common pest species in Montreal homes and businesses, while the deer mouse dominates wooded and agricultural zones. Their high reproductive capacity, nocturnal habits, and ability to enter through gaps as small as 6 mm make them formidable invaders.

Global Context

Originally native to Asia, mice have followed humans across continents for millennia. Ancient records from Egypt, Greece, and China document their presence. Trade and shipping routes helped them colonize every continent except Antarctica.

Quebec Context

In Quebec, colder seasons drive mice indoors. House mice infest homes, duplexes, and condos in Montreal, while deer mice are more common in barns and rural cottages. Deer mice are known vectors for hantavirus, especially dangerous in closed storage sheds or attics.

How Mice Infest Homes

• Enter through cracks, door gaps, vents, utility pipes

• Nest in insulation, wall voids, pantries, appliances

• Feed on crumbs, grains, garbage, even paper or wiring

• Build trails using scent markers and pheromones

• Active mostly at night

Why Mice Are a Problem

• Food contamination: Urine and droppings in food areas

• Electrical fires: Gnawing on wiring insulation

• Health risks: Spread of Salmonella, LCMV, Hantavirus

• Allergies: Shed skin, feces, and dander

• Secondary pests introduced: Fleas, Mites, Tapeworms (via fleas)

Reproduction Rate

• 1 Month: 6–8 pups per litter (May begin reproducing at 4–6 weeks of age)

• 6 Months: 60–80 offspring (Multiple litters, exponential growth)

• 1 Year: 100–120+ offspring (Up to 10 litters per female)

Parasites & Cross-Infestation Risks

• Mouse → Mite: Skin irritation, allergic dermatitis

• Mouse → Flea: Fleas may carry tapeworm larvae

• Mouse → Bacteria: Salmonella, hantavirus (esp. Peromyscus)

• Mouse → Wire Damage: Fire hazards due to gnawin

Why Hire a Professional

DIY traps may catch one or two mice—but never the colony. A certified exterminator will: Inspect for entry points, nests, and pheromone trails. Apply bait systems in tamper-proof stations. Seal access points with wire mesh or caulking. Disinfect contaminated zones. Recommend preventative measures for lasting results.

Montreal Pest News:

• Mice, rats, roaches: Keeping pests at bay an ongoing challenge for Montreal hospitals | CBC News

• https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/tenants-in-saint-leonard-building-complain-of-rats-cockroach-mice-infestation/

• Mice, cockroaches: NDG family raises health concerns over unfixed hole in apartment ceiling

Scientific Research:

• Phylogeographic Structure of the White-Footed Mouse and the Deer Mouse, Two Lyme Disease Reservoir Hosts in Québec

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4669108/

• Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in Canada: An overview of clinical features, diagnostics, epidemiology and prevention

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5864423/

Bed Bug

Cockroach

Rodent Flea

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Cimex Lectularius

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Rattus Rattus

Nosopsyllus fasciatus