What do mice eat?

Just like we try to eat as much of a variety in our diets as possible, so do other creatures like mice. While we may think of them as a pest that will eat anything and everything they can get their paws on, they do have a fairly distinctive diet.

Like us, mice are actually omnivores. This means that they will eat both plants and meat. As a rule, however, there are a few things that a mouse will seek out to eat more than anything. They are big fans of fruits, seeds, and grains. This is why if they get into your home, they will go after whatever source of carbs they can find.

Mice will also hunt for meat from smaller creatures like bugs. If even this type of food is unavailable, mice will switch to a different food source that may just make your skin crawl; each other. That’s right, mice have been known to cannibalize each other if they cannot find another steady food source. If mice are at this point in your home it can become extremely dangerous to deal with them. When animals get to this point they are incredibly stressed and can be very unpredictable and dangerous.

You may also be wondering how often a mouse needs to eat on any given day.

The answer may shock you. Despite their small size, mice need to eat upwards of 20 times every single day. This is why mice seek out our homes to build their nests. They desire an area with an easily accessible food source. Another issue that can come up from hungry mice is that they will start gnawing at whateverthey can find to see if they can eat it. While we know that wires and support beams are not a valid source of nutrients, mice do not and they will attempt to eat them time and time again.

This can lead to structural instability in your home and increase your risk of a house fire. If you suspect that this is going on in your home, you will need to deal with the issue immediately.

It’s worth noting that any kind of repairs needed due to a mouse infestation will likely not be covered by your homeowner’s insurance. Mice are widely considered a maintenance issue by insurers, therefore meaning that you must deal with the issue out of pocket. This can be incredibly expensive and is one of the reasons we recommend you attempt to mouse-proof your home before it can become an issue.