How do I know if I have rats or mice?

Some people will mistakenly identify mice in their home as rats, or vice versa. However, rats and mice are different pests, each of which presents a particular set of risks.

The easiest way to tell mice and rats apart is by their size. You can also tell whether you’re dealing with a rat or mouse invasion based on the droppings you find.

MICE:

• Mice are generally quite small, measuring just 7–8 cm long with an accompanying 7–8 cm tail.
• Mice droppings are like tiny grains of black or dark rice (sometimes even smaller).

RATS:

• Rats can be much larger, with some rats having bodies that measure up to 28 cm long in addition to a 23 cm long tail. Rats can also weigh 10 times as much as mice (or even more, in some cases). It also depends on the species of rat.
• Rat droppings are much bigger than those of the mouse. Rat faeces are also rounded on the edges, as opposed to mouse droppings (which generally have pointy ends).

Simon one of our expert pest technicians at Precision Pest Control shares the most common signs of a rodent infestation.