The thought of having a mouse crawl into your bed and along your sleepy body during the night is terrifying enough.
Horror and suspense movies have shown us these images, and they’re now stuck in your head. But are they real? Can mice actually bite you in your sleep?
Generally speaking – the ability to experience mice bite you while you’re in dreamland is possible, although very rare.
These creatures are afraid by nature, and having them feast on your flesh is a rare sight. These creatures would rather flee than fight – they’re afraid of humans or anything that’s bigger than them.
The only reason you’d see one in your bed is because of a possible food source rather than because they’re actively seeking you out to take a chunk out of your arm.
Reasons Why You May Find a Mouse in Your Bed
Hollywood movies and series have shown people being woken up by a mouse crawling on them. If you think about it, it’s actually quite comical.
Mice are timid creatures that would rather run away from humans than be anywhere near them. The idea of one chasing you down to take a bite is movie magic and nothing more.
However, there are certain instances that a mouse would end up in your bed, but not for the main purpose of biting you.
Here are some circumstances where you may find a mouse in your bed:
Food Source
What else could there be? Mice are attracted to food more than anything else. If they sense the presence of food in your bed, they’ll be drawn to it, as they’re natural foragers.
May it be bed crumbs or a slightly opened packet of chips – if there’s food, they’ll find it.
Accidental Entry
If you have an open window with a bed near it, there’s a chance that a mouse can enter your room and accidentally end up in your bed.
With their ability to jump a couple of feet high and squeeze through tiny cracks and crevices, it’s not impossible for them to enter your room and end up where you sleep.
Although these rodents won’t intentionally bite you, the sight of having a mouse enter your home should be something you need to do something about. There’s an entry point and if one mouse is able to enter, expect more to follow suit.
Shelter
In some rare circumstances, if the room and bed are unkempt, a mouse may use it as a shelter instead of a food source.
This would happen if the home is generally cluttered and there are piles of clothes or other objects lying around. A cluttered room provides more hiding spots and a place for them to build their nests.
While it’s possible for mice to use your bed as a shelter, it’s more likely that they’ll choose other areas of the room or house instead.
Your bed is too close to the ground and offers little protection from predators and other dangers. If you find a mouse nest in your bed, it’s likely that they were using it as a temporary resting spot before moving to a more permanent location.
Accidental Mouse Bites: Are They Dangerous?
It has been mentioned earlier that it’s very unlikely for a mouse to bite you while you’re sleeping, but it’s minimally possible. If a mouse is startled or feels threatened, it may bite as a form of self-defense.
Unfortunately, although it rarely happens, the presence of a mouse alone puts you at risk of different diseases. Hantavirus, tularemia, leptospirosis, bubonic plague, and typhus are just some of the most common diseases a single mouse may carry. Having them crawl along your bedsheets means there’s a high chance of them spreading diseases in your area.
However, getting bitten is a completely different story. A mouse bite may not be as deep as a dog bite, but it can still cause an infection.
It may not hurt as much as a bigger animal’s bite, but a mouse’s teeth are sharp enough to break the skin. If you have an open wound or sore, there’s a possibility of bacteria from the mouse entering your bloodstream and causing an infection.
What to Do If You Get Bitten by a Mouse?
It’s something that you don’t want to happen, but it’s good to know what to do just in case this happens to you or to someone in the family. One of the first things you need to do is wash the wound with warm water and soap.
Letting it be and not cleaning the wound after a mouse bite will only cause the infection to worsen. Washing the wound lessens the chance of bacteria entering your bloodstream. Do it as soon as possible to minimize the risk of infection.
Once you’ve cleaned the wound, apply a bandage or clean cloth after applying some pressure to prevent dirt and bacteria from entering. Some people would recommend applying antibiotic ointments or other products.
Don’t self-medicate. This will only cause the wound to become irritated and may even delay the healing process. The best thing you can do is to see a doctor as soon as possible so they can properly take care of the wound and prescribe the necessary medication.
What To Do If You See a Mouse In Your Bedroom?
As a general rule of thumb, the main goal is to make sure that pests won’t have access to your house, more specifically, your bedroom.
Having mice in your bedroom is not only a nuisance, but it can also be dangerous, considering the multitude of diseases they may carry.
In the unfortunate event that you’ve seen one, here are a few things you can try:
Identify How the Mouse Got Into Your Bedroom
Proper identification is key to making sure that the problem won’t happen again in the future. Mice are small and agile, and they can squeeze through tiny spaces.
You need to take a close look at your bedroom and identify how they were able to get in. Once you know where they’re coming from, you can properly block the opening to prevent them from getting in again.
Use Mouse Traps
If, somehow, they slipped from your sight, and you’re not sure whether they went out or the mice went hiding somewhere in your bedroom, the best thing you can do is to set up mouse traps.
Place them in strategic locations, such as in corners, near walls, or under the bed. You can also try using baits such as cheese, peanut butter, or bacon to attract them.
Your goal is to make sure that they go out of your room and your house for good. Rodent repellents are also a good way to keep them at bay.
Clean Up Your Bedroom
The additional clutter and clothes lying around in your bedroom give mice the perfect hiding spot. Seeing them in your bed is just a preview of the potential damage they can do if you don’t take care of the problem immediately.
Maintain a clean and organized bedroom to reduce the chances of having mice or any other pests for that matter.
Prevention Is Still The Best Solution
As mentioned earlier, the best way to deal with mice is to prevent them from coming in the first place. You can do this by regularly cleaning your house, especially your bedroom, and by maintaining a clutter-free environment.
You should also check for cracks and holes in your walls, doors, and windows and seal them immediately. Doing this will not only keep mice away, but it will also help deter other pests from coming into your house.
How to Avoid Getting Bitten by Mouse While Sleeping?
As mentioned earlier, the chances of experiencing this are slim. However, there are still some occurrences where people have gotten bitten by a mouse while they were asleep.
If you’re worried about this happening to you, there are some things you can do to avoid it.
Don’t Eat in Bed
Eating in bed is one of the main reasons why people get bitten by mice while they’re asleep. If you eat in bed, there’s a higher chance that crumbs will fall on your shirt, sheets, and comforter. All of these attract mice. The smell alone can lure them to your bedroom.
Brush Your Teeth and Wash Your Face Before Going to Sleep
Another reason why people get bitten by mice is that they have food residue on their faces. This might sound gross, but it’s true. Mice are attracted to the smell of food, and if they see food residue on your face, they might think that you’re food. To avoid this, make sure to brush your teeth before going to bed.
While you’re at eat, cleaning up before sleeping is a good way to make your bedroom less inviting to mice.
Wear Long Sleeves and Pants to Bed
This is more of a precautionary measure, but it doesn’t hurt to be safe. If you’ve seen mice wandering out and about, wearing long sleeves and pants will give you an extra layer of protection.
Keep Your Bedroom Door Closed
This one is pretty self-explanatory. Mice can squeeze through tiny spaces, so keeping your door closed will make it harder for them to get into your room.
Final Thoughts
Mice are one of the most common pests in the world.
When it comes to pest infestations, mice can be the most common pests you’d think of, and the fear of getting bitten while sleeping is pretty common. However, although it’s possible, the chances of getting bitten are slim.
This will only occur when you have food residue on your face or if you’re wearing clothes that have food stains.
