Mice are capable of reproducing in very large numbers. This is due to a number of factors, including their ability to breed early in life, year-round and each litter has a large number of young.
Female mice and their subsequent offspring can create families of mice numbering over 200 in less than 5 months. Mice begin to reproduce after they are about a month old. When baby mice are born, they are hairless, blind and deaf. After about 3 days, they begin to grow darker in color. In a week, they will grow fur and start to hear and in another few days, they will open their eyes. Baby mice will start to feed on solid foods within 2 weeks of being born and will be completely weaned from their mothers within 4 weeks. After they are weaned, they are immediately capable of reproducing.
Mice litters number from 7 to 9, on average. In the wild, the numbers are much lower. IN the wild this is too high. Mothers will consume their young if there is a food shortage or predators near by. With their ability to reproduce so quickly after they are born, it's easy to understand how mice are able to colonize rapidly. This capacity for breeding can cause your home to become over run with mice in a few short months.
If you see any evidence of mice, such as droppings, gnaw marks, or any other clues, it is important to address them quickly and safely. Seeing one mouse, may mean more often than not, means there are more in the house that you can't see. Using traps or bait to eliminate the mice can be effective but if you suspect that you have a large number of rodents, it's best to contact a pest control expert to help you.
Should you encounter a dead mouse, be sure to take appropriate safety precautions when disposing of the carcass. Wear gloves and possibly a facemask, and place the mouse in an outdoor trash receptacle. This is over kill