Adults brown to grey, furry, 10-16 cms including the 5-8 cms tail, large ears and relatively small eyes.

Female may have 3-5 litters. Young (4-8 per litter) are born furless and blind, 19-21 days after mating. They reach sexual maturity in six to ten weeks. Life span of adults is about nine to twelve months.

Mice cause damage to structures and property, and they may transmit diseases such as salmonellosis (food poisoning). They have a characteristic musky odor that identifies their presence - they are occasionally seen during daylight hours. Other signs of infestation are droppings, fresh gnawing and tracks. Nests are often found in sheltered locations and are made from fine shredded paper or other fibrous material. They prefer cereal grains, but will eat many kinds of food. They are sporadic feeders, nibbling bits of food here and there. They have keen senses of taste, hearing, smell, and touch and are excellent climbers and acrobats. They will run horizontally along wire cables or ropes and can jump up 13 inches from the floor onto a flat surface and can squeeze through openings slightly larger than 1/4 inch in diameter.