Do you understand a rodent’s life cycle? Most of us don’t, and by knowing your rodent’s life cycle then you are better prepared to prevent and/or eliminate your populations.

House Mouse Life Cycle

The house mouse (Mus musculus) is a small mammal of the order Rodentia, characteristically having a pointed snout, large rounded ears, and a long and almost hairless tail. It is one of the most abundant species of the genus Mus. They are roughly 3"-4" long and weigh only 1.1 ounces.

• A House Mouse can become sexually mature & able to mate in as little as 5 weeks. Typically, sexual maturity is normally reached in 5 to 8 weeks
• A female mouse can reproduce up to 8 times in its life with a gestation period of around 20 days
• The House Mouse will average 4 to 7 pups per litter, so they can have up to 56 pups in a year. Once they have had a litter they can come in heat & become pregnant again within 24 to 48 hours. The females can be pregnant and can still lactate to feed their current young, but their gestational period could be longer in this instance
• They can reproduce all year if their environments are stable with the proper amount of food, water & shelter. If the conditions are not favorable, they will limit their reproduction to spring & fall
• The average life span of a House Mouse is less than 1 year

Roof Rat Life Cycle

The Black rat, also known as the roof rat, ship rat, or house rat is a common long-tailed rodent of the stereotypical rat genus Rattus, in the subfamily Murinae. It originated in the Indian subcontinent but is now found worldwide. The black rat is black to light brown with a lighter underside. They are long, thin rodents with large eyes and ears, a pointed nose, and a scaly tail. They are roughly 16" long (6"-8" of body plus 6"-8" of tail) and weigh around 2.6-8.1 oz as an adult.

• A Roof Rat can become sexually mature and able to mate in approximately 8 to 12 weeks
• The Roof Rat will average 4 to 8 pups per litter & will have an average of 4 to 6 litters per year. Once they have had a litter they can come in heat & become pregnant again within 24 to 48 hours. The females can be pregnant and can still lactate to feed their current young, but their gestational period could be longer in this instance
• They can reproduce all year if their environments are stable with the proper amount of food, water & shelter. If the conditions are not favorable, they will limit their reproduction to spring & fall
• The average life span of a Roof Rat is 1 year

Norway Rat Life Cycle

The brown rat, also known as the common rat, street rat, sewer rat, wharf rat, Hanover rat, Norway rat, and Norwegian rat is a widespread species of common rat. One of the largest muroids, it is a brown or gray rodent with a long body and a tail slightly shorter than its body. They are foragers that can survive on a wide range of food, which has helped them successfully spread across the world. They are roughly 16" long in total length and range in weight from a half pound to 1 pound.

• A Norway Rat can become sexually mature and able to mate in approximately 8 to 12 weeks. They have a gestation period of around 21-24 days
• The Norway Rat will average 8 to 12 pups per litter and will have an average of 4 to 7 litters per year. Once they have had a litter they can come in heat & become pregnant again within 24 to 48 hours. The females can be pregnant and can still lactate to feed their current young, but their gestational period could be longer in this instance
• They can reproduce all year if their environments are stable with the proper amount of food, water & shelter. If the conditions are not favorable, they will limit their reproduction to spring & fall
• The average life span of a Norway Rat is 2 years

Now that you know the life cycle of House Mice, Roof Rats, and Norway Rats, you are better educated and prepared to eliminate unwanted populations. Liphatech pest control products will help rid you of any rodent issues.

If you have any additional tips or information on the life cycle of rodents or ways to control infestations, leave us a comment in the Comment Section below. If you have any questions or need help give us a call today at 888-433-5275.