Where does the house mouse live? - briefly
The house mouse primarily occupies human‑built environments such as walls, attics, basements, kitchens, and nearby structures like barns and grain stores. These sites offer abundant food, shelter, and nesting material.
Where does the house mouse live? - in detail
The common mouse (Mus musculus) occupies environments closely linked to human activity. In residential structures it inhabits walls, ceilings, attics, basements, and any concealed cavity offering shelter and access to food. Nesting sites are typically built from shredded paper, fabric, or insulation and are positioned near sources of waste, crumbs, or stored grain.
In urban settings the species exploits sewers, drainage systems, and underground tunnels. These habitats provide stable temperatures, high humidity, and continuous flow of organic material. Access points such as pipe openings, manholes, and utility chases allow movement between the street level and subterranean networks.
Agricultural and rural areas host populations in barns, granaries, and livestock shelters. Mice exploit stored feed, hay stacks, and equipment crevices. They also occupy field margins, hedgerows, and fallow ground where cover and foraging opportunities exist.
Typical microhabitats include:
- Wall voids and cavity spaces behind plaster or drywall
- Ceiling joists and roof trusses offering insulation and concealment
- Basements and crawl spaces with damp conditions and easy entry points
- Sewer pipes, manholes, and storm drains with constant moisture
- Barn lofts, feed bins, and grain silos providing abundant food
Geographically the animal is cosmopolitan, found on all continents except Antarctica. Its distribution follows human settlement patterns, thriving in temperate, subtropical, and even arid zones where buildings or storage facilities are present. The species tolerates a temperature range of approximately 5 °C to 30 °C, preferring environments that maintain moderate warmth and high humidity, which support reproduction and survival.