How big do mice get?

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Mice are actually quite small creatures, although from the way that humans jump and down on furniture when they see one, you'd think you were up against a dragon. You are right to be cautious when you come across a mouse, whether it's in your house or somewhere else, but for the most part, this is an animal that would much rather run off than stay and fight you. It would be like David and Goliath … you'd win. The mouse knows that.



People often get mice and rats confused, but mice are much smaller than rats. Mice will generally grow to about 10cm in length, tail included. If you want weight terms, you're looking at less than 50kg. Mice are tiny!

Rats, however, are much bigger rodents. These ones can measure in at 40cm in length, and that doesn't include the hairless and thick tail.

Mice have very small ears, another thing that sets them apart from rats. Rats are seemingly getting bigger, over the years, but that's not the case for mice. Although it is funny when you see a mouse with a bit of weight around the midriff. Mice can actually grow a little chunky if they have found a plentiful supply of food, but even then, it is only a few kg around the middle. No comically fat mice here.

Although mice around the globe are generally quite small, there are a few exceptions to the rule. The South Atlantic island, Gough Island, is a sanctuary because of it's remote status. Once upon a time, however, a ship must have bought a couple of rats to the party, because now there is quite the population of them. It is believed that there are over 700,000 of them scattered across. On this same island, the mice are growing bigger than the ones we see in the states, and they're also changing their diet too. Rather than sticking to the mostly plant-based matter, they turned to meat-eating - birds, chicks, and more. It is believed, because of this, that mice are now growing to two or three times their regular size. That's quite a staggering amount!

It doesn't appear that mice are getting any bigger across the states, but that's not to say they won't be a worry. These are creatures that chew and gnaw, scratch and tear, and reproduce at such a staggering rate, you'll find it impossible to keep up. One mouse won't stay just one mouse for very long, and that's why it doesn't really matter how big they get. Even if they were the smallest creatures, they still wreak havoc and spread disease. If you have a mouse problem in your home or work building, get it resolved ASAP. It'll be an expensive error otherwise!

For more information, you may want to click on one of these guides that I wrote:
How to get rid of mice - my main mouse removal info guide.
how to get rid of mice in the attic
how to kill mice
What does mouse poop look like
mice in the walls