Size is the most obvious difference. Mice are small, typically two to four inches long with thin tails. Rats are much larger at six to nine inches with thick, scaly tails. They also behave differently, which affects how you control them.
Finding rodent droppings or hearing scratching at night is stressful enough even if you aren’t trying to figure out what kind of rodent you’re dealing with. But the difference between mice and rats matters quite a bit when it comes to getting rid of them.
Mice are curious and exploratory. They investigate new objects in their environment quickly, which is why you can put down snap traps and reliably catch them (provided they’re placed correctly). Their droppings are small, about the size of a grain of rice, and are pointed at both ends.
Rats are a different animal, literally and figuratively. They’re more cautious, even suspicious of new things. A rat might avoid a trap for days simply because it wasn’t there before. This behavior makes rats harder to trap using the same tricks that work on mice. Their droppings are also larger, roughly half an inch long, and blunt at the ends.
Both mice and rats can damage your home, but the repair process will be different. Mice chew on food packaging, insulation, and wiring, but there’s only so much their small jaws can do. Rats can chew through wood, plastic, and even soft metals like aluminum. Sometimes even concrete block. They’ve been known to cause structural damage so severe that it results in electrical fires.
Figuring out what kind of pest you’re dealing with will change how you approach rodent control. But a professional can help here, because they know what kind of traps to use, where to place them, and how to stop new mice and rats from getting inside in the first place.
If you’re a Concord homeowner with a rodent issue, Mosquito Squad of Franklin & Framingham can help. Professional rodent control starts with a thorough inspection to identify the species, locate entry points, and target nesting areas. From there, a technician will come up with a custom plan specific to your property and the rodent you’re dealing with.
