In my experience, mice in the house tend to have a diverse diet, although they do have some preferences. One thing I’ve noticed is that mice are particularly attracted to sweet fruits and berries. Whenever I’ve had fruit sitting out on the counter, it seems like the mice always find their way to it. They seem to have a knack for sniffing out the sugary goodness and helping themselves to a feast.
Another food that mice are drawn to is pet food. If you have a cat or a dog and leave their food out overnight, it’s not uncommon to find mice nibbling on it in the morning. Mice are opportunistic eaters, and they don’t discriminate when it comes to food sources.
Nuts are also a favorite of mice. I remember one winter when I had a bag of mixed nuts sitting in my pantry. It wasn’t long before I noticed tiny bite marks on the bag, and sure enough, when I opened it up, I found that the mice had been helping themselves to the delicious assortment of nuts.
Mice are not picky when it comes to meat either. They will gladly indulge in nearly any kind of meat they come across. Leftover chicken or beef in the trash can or even a forgotten sandwich on the kitchen counter can quickly become a mouse’s meal.
Grains and seeds are staples in a mouse’s diet. They are drawn to anything high in carbohydrates, so it’s no surprise that they find their way into boxes of cereal, rice, or pasta. I’ve even had mice chew through plastic bags to get to these food sources.
Plants are not safe from mice either. They have a knack for nibbling on leaves and stems, which can be frustrating if you’re trying to maintain a houseplant collection. I’ve had to take extra precautions to protect my plants from these pesky critters.
Lastly, mice are not above scavenging for dinner leftovers. If you leave food out on the kitchen counter or forget to clean up after a meal, mice will gladly take advantage of the opportunity. They can be quite resourceful when it comes to finding their next meal.
To summarize, mice in the house will eat a variety of foods, but they have a particular affinity for sweet fruits and berries, pet food, nuts, meat, grains and seeds, plants, and dinner leftovers. It’s important to take precautions to prevent mice from accessing these food sources to keep them out of your house.