Mice are ubiquitous rodents that dwell in the countryside, homes, old vehicles, and sometimes in a cage on our dresser. If you know a little about these little cuties, you might wonder just how different they are from their wild friends out there. Let’s get to know the diet and lifestyle of wild mice and domesticated mice. Then, you can gauge just how domestication changes the natural diet of feral mice.
All About Mice Mice are incredibly hardy, prolific breeders that can be found in just about any type of terrain or country on the map. They are highly adaptable foragers and scavengers, knowing just what to look for to feed their panging hunger. Mice also store food out of habit. Instinctually, these critters don’t know when their next meal will be, so they stash it away for a rainy day. This private food hoard is called a “cache,” which is usually less than 10 feet away from their nest. Although mice might scurry away from predators or the scuffle of human feet, they can be quite social in their own groups, especially when they are domesticated. However, mice can also be territorial creatures that prefer to stay alone, surviving as needed in the great outdoors.
See Also: Do Mice Make Good Pets? What You Need to Know!
Image Credit By: CC0 Public Domain, pxfuel Mouse Domestication For years, human beings have studied the behavioral habits of mice, as they interestingly mimic us in many ways. These plentiful creatures encompass the world, withstanding wastelands, grasslands, swamplands, and suburban/city areas. Science tells us that humans began domesticating pet mice over 15,000 years ago. Mice have served humans well, providing clear advancements in medicine and science. Back in the 1700s, there are historical records of folks keeping mice as pets in Japan and China. Once Europeans caught wind of this, they started to import them to breed what would become common laboratory mice you see today.
See Also: Can Mice Eat Cheese? What You Need to Know!
Natural Diet All mice are opportunistic omnivores, meaning they will snack on anything they can get their little paws on. In urban settings, mice eat a broad spectrum of foods, including rotting items. Country mice usually eat more vegetation, but they will eat animal matter, too. What a mouse is eating depends quite a lot on where they live. Since mice are such adaptable creatures, they can consume just about anything they need to survive. Mice are even known to eat rotten meat or veggies as a means to get sustenance.
Related Read: Can Mice Eat Cucumbers? What You Need To Know!
Image Credit By: Kseniia Vladimirovna, Shutterstock Wild Mice in the Home Mice can be destructive and disease-laden, which can be detrimental to other species—including humans. They can carry potentially harmful bacteria in their urine and feces, like salmonella, lymphocytic choriomeningitis, and hantavirus. Mice can also devastate your cupboards and destroy your belongings. They are expensive critters to live with in your home without your consent. Since modern days, we have been combatting infestations in urban settings. And many people keep mice as pets or feeders for other pets.
See Also: Can Mice Eat Hamster Food? What You Need to Know!
Urban Infestation Mice are one of the most common pest control problems today, accounting for 30% of all cases. If you have furry little mice living in your attic or basement, you might know all-too-well the damage they can cause. You can find chew holes in boxes of cereal, mouse poop in your silverware drawers—the list goes on. Your home is a treasure trove buffet of delights. Mice have all of the material they need to make bedding and food to go around. And once you find one—you can bet there’s more where that came from. Image Credit: Pixabay Predatory Concerns In the wild, mice have to be careful with their every step. Just as they spend time out looking for rations, so do other animals hiding in the bushes—and mouse is on the menu. The primary predators of mice depend mostly on the area they live. Basically, anything larger than a mouse that eats meat (even rats) can make a meal out of a mouse. However, here are a few:
Foxes
Birds of prey
Cats
Wild dogs
Snakes
Humans
Related Read: Can Mice Eat Meat? What You Need to Know!
Wild vs. Domesticated Mouse Diet The most obvious difference between wild and domesticated mouse diets is consistency. Wild mice eat as they can, stockpiling extras for times when rations are low. Domestic mice might hoard, but it’s instinctual and not from necessity. Let’s take a look at the different life stages and how they differ between the country mouse and the city mouse, so to speak.
See Also: 16 Types of Pet Rats: Breeds, Colors & Patterns (with Pictures)
Image Credit: Kapa65, Pixabay Newborn Mice As with most animals, newborn mice are entirely dependent on their mothers for the first several weeks of life. It has all of the crucial nutrients their bodies require to develop appropriately. Pups can munch on certain foods just a few days after they’re born. In the wild, mice are fully weaned by 3 weeks—able to forage for their own food. In a cage setting, you can leave the mama with babies until the pups reach five weeks of age. After this point, babies should be separated to avoid unwanted breeding.
Related Read: How to Take Care of a Pet Rat (Care Sheet & Guide)
Juvenile Mice In nature, juveniles quickly learn the ropes—alternating between finding a meal and trying not to become one themselves. Since they are opportunistic eaters in the wild, they will find what they need to survive. In a pet setting, juvenile mice are still growing, requiring at least three small meals per day. Feed them commercial block portions based on their life stage—as directed on the box.
Related Read: 5 Best Rat Toys; Reviews & Top Picks
Adult Mice If a wild mouse is lucky to reach adulthood by 6 months of age, its eating patterns change. Older wild mice gather as much food as they can find to put in their cache, and they can eat between 15 and 20 times per day. It would be best to feed a domesticated mouse a diet of commercial mouse food, leafy greens, and fruits. You should avoid mixed bags of food, as mice pick out the pieces they love most and leave the rest, leading to malnutrition. A commercial block is ideal.
Related Read: Can Mice Eat Peanut Butter? What You Need to Know!
Image Credit: Pixabay Modern Differences Between Fancy & Wild Mice Here are some key visual differences between wild mice and their domesticated cousins.
Wild Mice Domesticated Mice
Size: 2-3 inches 2-3 inches
Color: Agouti, gray, black, brown White, black, brown, gray, silver
Coat: Straight, short Hairless, short, long, curly
Lifespan: 12-18 months 1-2 years
Health Concerns: Prey, poisoning, traps, illness Tumors, respiratory illness
Diet: Meat, grass, grain, seeds, nuts Commercial block, veggies, fruit
Final Thoughts So, now you know the dietary differences between wild and pet mice. Remember, wild mice feast on whatever they have available to them. But a domestic mouse needs a wide spectrum of nutrition offered through commercial pellets and fresh foods. If you have a litter or adult wild mouse at home, contact a wildlife rescue near you for further guidance. This article is in no way a replacement for professional advice and information.
Next on your reading list: Can Mice Eat Chocolate? What You Need to Know!
Featured Image Credit: Gaertringen, Pixabay
Mice are ubiquitous rodents that dwell in the countryside, homes, old vehicles, and sometimes in a cage on our dresser. If you know a little about these little cuties, you might wonder just how different they are from their wild friends out there.
Let’s get to know the diet and lifestyle of wild mice and domesticated mice. Then, you can gauge just how domestication changes the natural diet of feral mice.
All About Mice
Mice are incredibly hardy, prolific breeders that can be found in just about any type of terrain or country on the map. They are highly adaptable foragers and scavengers, knowing just what to look for to feed their panging hunger.
Mice also store food out of habit. Instinctually, these critters don’t know when their next meal will be, so they stash it away for a rainy day. This private food hoard is called a “cache,” which is usually less than 10 feet away from their nest.
Although mice might scurry away from predators or the scuffle of human feet, they can be quite social in their own groups, especially when they are domesticated. However, mice can also be territorial creatures that prefer to stay alone, surviving as needed in the great outdoors.
- See Also: Do Mice Make Good Pets? What You Need to Know!
Mouse Domestication
For years, human beings have studied the behavioral habits of mice, as they interestingly mimic us in many ways. These plentiful creatures encompass the world, withstanding wastelands, grasslands, swamplands, and suburban/city areas.
Science tells us that humans began domesticating pet mice over 15,000 years ago. Mice have served humans well, providing clear advancements in medicine and science.
Back in the 1700s, there are historical records of folks keeping mice as pets in Japan and China. Once Europeans caught wind of this, they started to import them to breed what would become common laboratory mice you see today.
- See Also: Can Mice Eat Cheese? What You Need to Know!
Natural Diet
All mice are opportunistic omnivores, meaning they will snack on anything they can get their little paws on. In urban settings, mice eat a broad spectrum of foods, including rotting items. Country mice usually eat more vegetation, but they will eat animal matter, too.
What a mouse is eating depends quite a lot on where they live. Since mice are such adaptable creatures, they can consume just about anything they need to survive. Mice are even known to eat rotten meat or veggies as a means to get sustenance.
- Related Read: Can Mice Eat Cucumbers? What You Need To Know!
Wild Mice in the Home
Mice can be destructive and disease-laden, which can be detrimental to other species—including humans. They can carry potentially harmful bacteria in their urine and feces, like salmonella, lymphocytic choriomeningitis, and hantavirus.
Mice can also devastate your cupboards and destroy your belongings. They are expensive critters to live with in your home without your consent.
Since modern days, we have been combatting infestations in urban settings. And many people keep mice as pets or feeders for other pets.
- See Also: Can Mice Eat Hamster Food? What You Need to Know!
Urban Infestation
Mice are one of the most common pest control problems today, accounting for 30% of all cases.
If you have furry little mice living in your attic or basement, you might know all-too-well the damage they can cause. You can find chew holes in boxes of cereal, mouse poop in your silverware drawers—the list goes on.
Your home is a treasure trove buffet of delights. Mice have all of the material they need to make bedding and food to go around. And once you find one—you can bet there’s more where that came from.
Predatory Concerns
In the wild, mice have to be careful with their every step. Just as they spend time out looking for rations, so do other animals hiding in the bushes—and mouse is on the menu.
The primary predators of mice depend mostly on the area they live. Basically, anything larger than a mouse that eats meat (even rats) can make a meal out of a mouse. However, here are a few:
Foxes
Birds of prey
Cats
Wild dogs
Snakes
Humans
Related Read: Can Mice Eat Meat? What You Need to Know!
Wild vs. Domesticated Mouse Diet
The most obvious difference between wild and domesticated mouse diets is consistency. Wild mice eat as they can, stockpiling extras for times when rations are low. Domestic mice might hoard, but it’s instinctual and not from necessity.
Let’s take a look at the different life stages and how they differ between the country mouse and the city mouse, so to speak.
- See Also: 16 Types of Pet Rats: Breeds, Colors & Patterns (with Pictures)
Newborn Mice
As with most animals, newborn mice are entirely dependent on their mothers for the first several weeks of life. It has all of the crucial nutrients their bodies require to develop appropriately. Pups can munch on certain foods just a few days after they’re born.
In the wild, mice are fully weaned by 3 weeks—able to forage for their own food. In a cage setting, you can leave the mama with babies until the pups reach five weeks of age. After this point, babies should be separated to avoid unwanted breeding.
- Related Read: How to Take Care of a Pet Rat (Care Sheet & Guide)
Juvenile Mice
In nature, juveniles quickly learn the ropes—alternating between finding a meal and trying not to become one themselves. Since they are opportunistic eaters in the wild, they will find what they need to survive.
In a pet setting, juvenile mice are still growing, requiring at least three small meals per day. Feed them commercial block portions based on their life stage—as directed on the box.
- Related Read: 5 Best Rat Toys; Reviews & Top Picks
Adult Mice
If a wild mouse is lucky to reach adulthood by 6 months of age, its eating patterns change. Older wild mice gather as much food as they can find to put in their cache, and they can eat between 15 and 20 times per day.
It would be best to feed a domesticated mouse a diet of commercial mouse food, leafy greens, and fruits. You should avoid mixed bags of food, as mice pick out the pieces they love most and leave the rest, leading to malnutrition. A commercial block is ideal.
- Related Read: Can Mice Eat Peanut Butter? What You Need to Know!
Modern Differences Between Fancy & Wild Mice
Here are some key visual differences between wild mice and their domesticated cousins.
Wild Mice Domesticated Mice
Size: 2-3 inches 2-3 inches
Color: Agouti, gray, black, brown White, black, brown, gray, silver
Coat: Straight, short Hairless, short, long, curly
Lifespan: 12-18 months 1-2 years
Health Concerns: Prey, poisoning, traps, illness Tumors, respiratory illness
Diet: Meat, grass, grain, seeds, nuts Commercial block, veggies, fruit
Final Thoughts
So, now you know the dietary differences between wild and pet mice. Remember, wild mice feast on whatever they have available to them. But a domestic mouse needs a wide spectrum of nutrition offered through commercial pellets and fresh foods.
If you have a litter or adult wild mouse at home, contact a wildlife rescue near you for further guidance. This article is in no way a replacement for professional advice and information.
- Next on your reading list: Can Mice Eat Chocolate? What You Need to Know!
Featured Image Credit: Gaertringen, Pixabay
