There’s always confusion as to how you can tell the type of rodent you have in your house, yard or shed. Without spotting either, telling the difference between mice and rat droppings is simple. Mouse droppings are smaller than a grain of rice, while rat poop is larger, almost the size of beans or larger. Identifying mice poop for those of cockroaches can also be difficult and it is better to call rodent removal service when you notice any kind of droppings. For the latter, however, they tend to be more seed-shaped, and roaches tend to smear the droppings on the surfaces.
The colour also varies. A mouse has brown droppings while a rat’s will be black at first but grey when left out of a while. You can also use droppings to classify the type of rat in your home. If it is three-quarters of an inch in size, then it is likely a brown rat. If it half an inch and rounded at the edges and sausage-shaped then you have a black or roof rat in your home.
While the variations explained so far enough for identification, the other way to tell if you have a mouse or rat in your home is the quality. A rat typically produces 40 to 50 pallets in a day, while a mouse will do a lot more, anywhere from 70 to 150 pallets on any given day. It is perhaps an indication of how well they are feeding, something that should be a point of concern.
The animals themselves also look different; when you make a sighting, you’ll be able to tell them apart. A mouse is smaller, with delicate feet and ears that are relatively large for its head. On the other hand, rats have larger bodies and a thicker tail, and their ears are smaller compared to the size of their heads.
If you spot them, you’ll be able to know what to let the exterminator know what type of problem you’re having in your home. Though you’ll sound knowledgeable, the process is still the same. You’ll also be able to know what sort of sized traps to go for if you choose to handle the extermination yourself you also might consider some repellants that are available on the market. However remember that repellants like critter ridder don’t solve the problem with mice and rats, it is just a temporary solution. But does critter ridder work? It just postpones the issue, mice and rats will continue reproducing around your property and will return once the product stops working.
The prominent place that you will find droppings is where their food source is. That should be an indication that you should move or place the bag in a tamper-proof container so that the rats or mice no longer have access to the food. The same goes with water; if there is a puddle or a leakage, you’ll possibly find rodent droppings there as well. Repair any leaks and wipe the water away.
How to handle rat or mice droppings
Rat and mice feces are dangerous and should be treated with care especially when you are in a facility where food is processed. It is not just about touching them; inhaling can also be hazardous. These droppings are responsible for multiple diseases if mishandled. It is therefore imperative, especially if you have young children, to clear any droppings you find and immediately call an exterminator. Depending on the legislator for example issued by Ontario, they will be able to know what sort of trap to use to go about catching and removing rats from your home.
However, because you need to clean the droppings immediately, you should ensure that your hands are gloved and that you’re wearing a face mask. You should also wear long pants and long sleeves to avoid making accidental contact with the droppings. Also, you’re encouraged to call a professional pest control company that will even clean out droppings in rat or mouse hiding places. Their equipment and products can remove any odour and discourage other rodents from coming in. Call us if you need help with rat infestation: 647-496-2211
