Rats and mice are two closely related rodents, and they are both pest species that will invade and cause trouble into the home. In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at the differences between these two species and how these differences affect the pest control process.
The main differences
Rats and mice are quite similar in several regards, but to compare the two species would be like comparing a dog to a wolf. Both rats and mice are part of the larger rodent family, but they are two completely different species. With that being said, the most obvious difference between the two is their size. Rats will have bodies that are about 10 inches long, with tails just as long, while mice will only reach lengths of about 10 inches in total, when you take the tail in consideration. Rats and mice can also spread different diseases, although there are many diseases which they have in common.
When it comes to how infestations manifest themselves, rat infestations tend to be more destructive, because of their larger size. The two species also leave similar signs during an infestation, but there is one thing you can check for in order to identify the species responsible – the droppings. Rats have larger droppings which resemble black grains of rice, while mice have very small droppings that will be grouped up together, and which have irregular shapes.
How these differences affect control efforts
The size difference between the two species also has an impact on control efforts. Because rats are bigger, they need bigger traps and more potent poisons to be removed. A mouse trap will at most injure a rat, and a mouse may be too small to be caught by a rat trap, allowing it to escape. This is why it’s important to identify which species is responsible for the infestation, and why a pest control pro will first perform an inspection, before going forward with the control process. The inspection will also allow the pro to determine the location of the infestation and the main areas of activity, information which will help make the control efforts much more effective.
If you would like to know more about the differences between rats and mice and how these differences impact infestation patterns and control procedures, or if you have a rodent infestation in your home, contact us today.
