Rat vs Mouse: What’s the Difference?

South Florida Rodent Control

Seeing any wildlife creature in your South Florida home is always alarming! While both are harmful to our home and the health of our family. These creatures will contaminate homes, chew wires, and transmit diseases to humans and pets. It’s important to understand their key differences to help prevent both rodents.

House mice are smaller than rats, ranging from four to six inches in length, and can be light grey, white, or brown. While rats are double the length of the average house mice, Norway rats are around 10 inches long. A difference seen between the two rodents are their tails. Mouse tails are equal in length to their body and are thin, long, and hairy. Rat tails can be 7” to 9” in length and are long, thick, scaly, and hairless.

If you have rodent infestation, you’ve probably seen their droppings. The difference between rat and mice droppings is noticeably different. Mice have smaller droppings, only about an eighth to a quarter of an inch long. Rat droppings are larger, about a half to three-quarters of an inch long.

Both rats and mice will happily nest inside or around your property, but their difference is the location they choose to nest in. Mice are great at climbing, typically making their nests in wall voids, attics, sheds, cabinets, and barns. While rats, such as Norway rats, will choose to live in burrows underground like crawlspaces, attics, and basements. Other rats, such as roof rats, are also great climbers but prefer to habitat in upper parts of buildings, trees, or attics.

Whether you’re dealing with a mouse or rat, proper identification and treatment are essential to remove them. It’s best to contact your local South Floria pest control company who will identify the rodent, locate entry points, and provide a treatment and prevention plan.

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