How do I Know if I Have Rats or Mice in my Home?
As you can see from the photo above that rats are generally bigger than mice and there are several physical differences in their appearance.
To be able to tell if you have rats or mice coming into your house or business ideally you need have a proper look at one, but you may be able to spot some droppings or hear scratching. They usually like to keep themselves hidden and tend to come out at night when everything is quiet and you are in bed.
Below are the differences between rats and mice to help you determine what sort of infestation you have, so you can start to deal with it.
Heads and Ears
- Rats have blunt snouts and small ears compared to the size our their bodies
- Mice have have long whiskers and a triangular snout. They also have large and floppy ears
Size
- Rats are larger than mice, usually between 6″ to 9″ inches in length, sometimes even bigger (excluding the tail)
- Mice are smaller, between 2″ to 4″ in length
Tails
- Rats have long tails which are scaly and thick and without hair
- Mice also have long tails which are thin and hairy
Noises
- Rats make scratching noises which are quite loud and you may be able to hear them chewing
- Mice can make scuffling, scratching and squeaking noises
Droppings
- Rat droppings are about 1/2 inch long, look like thin capsules tapered at one end and are black or dark brown
- Mice droppings are small, about the size of a grain of rice, dark and shaped like pellets
Behaviour
- Rats are cautious and tend to stay close to their nest. They will probably be wary of food and traps you put out for them
- Mice are curious and like to explore, but will run away if they see you. They can get into smaller holes than rats
You can Contact Tom for advice and to arrange an appointment if you think you have rats or mice in your home.
Categorised as: Mice & rats
