If you’ve spotted a rodent in or around your home, your first question is probably: was it a rat or a mouse? While they may seem similar, these pests differ in essential ways, from their appearance and behavior to the food they eat. In this blog, we’ll break down the key differences between rats and mice to help you identify which one you’re dealing with and how to approach the problem effectively.
Differences Between Mice & Rats: From Behavior to Droppings
While mice and rats share some common ground, they differ in many key ways that can help you identify which rodent you’re dealing with. From their behavior and nesting habits to the shape of their droppings, here’s how to tell them apart:
Mouse vs. Rat Appearance
The main way to differentiate between a mouse and a rat is their appearance:
- Size: Rats are much larger than mice. Mice are typically 2–4 inches long, while rats measure 7–9 inches. However, a baby rat could be mistaken for a full-grown mouse due to their small stature, so looking for other indicators to determine what type of rodent you’re dealing with is essential.
- Color: Mice are often lighter in color than rats, which makes it easy to tell the difference between the two. Mice are white, gray, or brown, and rats are black, brown, dark gray, or even white on occasion.
- Head: Another appearance factor is each rodent’s snout or head shape. Mice have a triangular snout with long whiskers, while rats’ snouts are more blunt than a mouse’s.
- Tails: Rats have long, thick tails that are hairless and scaly. On the other hand, mice have long, thin, hairy tails and large, floppy ears.
If you’re trying to determine whether you’re dealing with a mouse or rat, examine their size, color, head shape, and tail to decide which rodent you’re dealing with. If you’re still having trouble identifying the rodent, call in professional pest control technicians to help out.
Mouse vs. Rat Diet
Another strategy to identify the type of rodent in your home is to notice what food is being chewed on. Rats tend to eat much more than mice, feeding on various protein-rich foods, including cheese, fish, meat, and pet food. They also feed on trash and sometimes non-food items like soap and paper. Mice eat a healthier diet in comparison. They’ll often feed on fruit, vegetables, nuts, and grains. If you’re spotting rodents near trash or protein-rich foods, you’re most likely dealing with a rat. However, if your vegetables or fruit have chew marks, you could have a mouse problem.
To keep both these rodents at bay, store food in airtight containers, empty the trash often, and wipe up crumbs on the kitchen counter.
Mouse vs. Rat Droppings
If you have a rodent problem, you’ve probably spotted droppings around your home. Examining these rodent droppings can be a tell-tale sign of what you’re dealing with and how to handle the situation.
- Rodent droppings are dark and shiny with rounded ends, measuring ½—¾ of an inch. They produce 40–50 droppings per day. Rodent feces are harmful because they can contaminate food and cause allergic reactions in people. They can also transmit disease or bacteria, so cleaning up the droppings as soon as you spot them is essential.
- Mouse droppings are small, measuring about ¼ inch long, and have a chalky and dry appearance with pointed ends. New feces will appear dark and shiny, similar to rat droppings. Mice produce about 50–100 droppings every day. Mouse droppings can also be dangerous as they transmit diseases like hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, leptospirosis, and salmonellosis.
If you’re unsure whether you’ve spotted mouse vs. rat droppings, it’s best to call a professional pest control company to identify them.
Mouse vs. Rat Behavior
Rats and mice also behave differently, making it easier to identify the culprit in your home:
- Mice are often braver than their counterparts, even with their small stature. Their curious nature causes them to want to explore new things, including the trap in your home. They can also hide in tinier spaces, including small holes, cracks, and behind items in your kitchen. Due to their small size, mice can sneak into areas where rats cannot, making it harder for them to get caught.
- Rats are much harder to trap than mice. While mice are curious about the trap on your kitchen floor, rats are fearful of it and stay far away. They don’t typically explore and need extra time to investigate new things and places. Compared to mice, rats don’t climb as much, except roof rats. Most of these rodents prefer to make nests in lower levels of a property. While you would probably find mice in the attic, rats will most likely be found on or below ground level of the property.
Mice vs. Rats: How to Get Rid of Each Rodent
Getting rid of rats and mice isn’t easy, but if the infestation isn’t too big, it could be possible with the right strategies. The best thing you can do to eliminate these rodents from your home or business is to set traps. Spring-loaded traps can be very effective for capturing these sneaky critters, but remember that rats can be harder to catch due to their fearful, cautious behavior. When setting traps, bait them with dried fruit, peanut butter, or cheese, depending on the type of rodent and their dietary preferences. Place the traps perpendicular to walls, where mice or rats are known to travel, with the baited side facing the wall. Ensure the bait is securely attached to the trap’s trip pedal so it springs when the rodent removes the food.
If you’ve caught a mouse or rat with a trap, use gloves to handle the dead rodent, double-bag it, and immediately place it in the trash. Always prioritize cleanliness and safety when dealing with dead mice or rats. If your traps aren’t catching any rodents—most likely because rats are harder to trap—it’s essential to call a professional promptly. Preventive Pest Control can provide expert-level rodent control for Southern California residents in Orange County and the Inland Empire. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us for efficient solutions!
Is Poison Effective in Getting Rid of Rats & Mice?
Yes, poison can be effective for exterminating rats and mice. However, it comes at a cost. Poisoned rodents can crawl away and die, and their bodies can be hard to find, resulting in unpleasant odors throughout your space. Poisons can also accidentally harm children or pets, so we don’t recommend using them for rodent control.
3 Prevention Tips for Mice vs. Rats
Don’t want to even deal with mice or rats at all? Here are 3 prevention tips from the experts:
1. Eliminate Food & Water Sources
When dealing with mice vs. rats, one thing attracts both of them to your place—food left out on your counter or around the home. Whether crumbs on the counter or floor or torn-open bags containing food in pantries, mice and rats will stay at your property if there’s food and water for them to survive. Ensure you’re sealing all food away in airtight containers, cleaning counters and sweeping floors consistently, and taking out the trash daily or every other day to repel rodents from your environment. Keep your garbage in pest-proof containers with lids that close and are tightly sealed. Repair leaking plumbing and cover pools to remove rodents’ water sources. If you’re ensuring your property is consistently clean, you won’t have to worry about a mouse or rat infestation.
2. Rodent-Proof Your Building
Here are a few strategies to rodent-proof your property:
- Cover crawl spaces and attic vents with ¼ inch metal screening or steel mesh
- Fix cracks in cement footings or building foundations
- Seal potential entry points that are bigger than ¼ inch
- Build sheds on solid, concrete slabs
These strategies will prevent rats and mice from entering your property, preventing an infestation from the start.
3. Eliminate Potential Hiding & Living Spaces
Rats and mice are sneaky pests, finding the most unlikely places to call home. Fortunately, you can stop them from getting comfortable on your property by eliminating their popular hiding spots. These rodents often nest in basements, attics, crawl spaces, pantries, and wall voids, so pay special attention to those areas to prevent mouse and rat infestations. The most important thing you can do is avoid clutter in these spaces, as it provides ideal nesting spots for mice and rats.
A few additional tips to eliminate potential rodent hiding and nesting areas include:
- Avoid storing old cars or furniture outdoors for extended periods
- Keep plants trimmed away from buildings and roofs
- Remove any unused piles of lumber
- Store firewood and lumber off the ground (ideally 12–18 inches)
- Maintain a clear perimeter around your property, and avoid storing junk or materials in that area
Need Professional Help? Call Preventive Pest Control
If you’ve identified whether you’re dealing with mice vs. rats and employed the strategies we’ve outlined, but haven’t seen success, it may be time to call the experts. Preventive Pest Control is a top-trusted rodent control company in Southern California, providing 5-star solutions to residents and business owners. Our Orange County pest control technicians and Inland Empire pest control specialists are eager to make your home 100% rodent-free all year. Whether you’re dealing with curious mice or fearful and hard-to-catch rats, we’ve got your back. Contact our team to determine which subscription plan fits your needs and budget, and we’ll take care of the rest!