Nonnative Species Sharing Human Habitat House mice and Norway rats also belong to the family Muridae. Murids are some of the most widespread mammals on earth. From central and southeastern Asia, house mice and Norway rats spread to Europe, then jumped aboard ships and eventually landed in North America. As uninvited house guests, these mice and rats may become pests. You can tell them apart from native mice by their almost furless ears and scaly tails.
House mice eat seeds, crops, insects, and even such things as soap and glue.
They are good climbers, swimmers, and jumpers. They can run as fast as 8 miles per hour. Even so, they seldom travel farther than 50 feet from their homes. House mice are kept as pets and research laboratory animals. Like all rodents, it carries lice and fleas.