You’ve heard the scuttling, seen the gnaw marks- you know you’ve got a rodent on the loose. Rat? Mouse? Who cares, you think! To you, a pest is a pest, and you just want it gone. But knowing the difference between a mouse and a rat and identifying the which type you’ve got is the first important step in rodent control.
The tactic and approach used to exterminate a mouse will be different than those taken to exterminate a rat. Besides having physical differences, mice and rats have different behaviors, food preferences, and personalities. When you understand the differences, you’ll have a better shot at successful rodent control. Miller’s Rodent and Wildlife Solutions is your local experts; you can contact us at 941-302-6009 with any questions.
Rat vs. Mouse: Personality Traits
A crucial difference between a rat and a mouse is that a rat is predisposed towards caution, whereas a mouse is naturally more curious.
Mice are not shy about exploring their surroundings and checking out new things. A mouse would find a shiny trap, set out in its territory, intriguing and attractive. But if the trap has set there a few days, its old news. Try moving it somewhere new to recapture a mouse’s attention. Rats, on the other hand, are much more careful and predictable creatures. They have cautiously plotted paths and will not branch out to new areas that they are not familiar with. They will be wary of traps and avoid them. For this reason, you should first put out unset traps. Let the rat get accustomed to their presence, then put out set traps to catch the creature!
Food Preferences
Rats need liquids daily.
If they don’t get enough from their food source, they’ll have to seek out water.
Rats are notorious for being dumpster divers when it comes to food, but they prefer fresh grains or meat.
A rat can and will climb to obtain food
Habits & Lifestyle
Rats are excellent diggers. They are known to burrow under buildings and fences.
The average lifespan of a rat is 1- 1 ½ years.
Rats crave warm spaces, which is why they are attracted to your attic.
Although larger than mice, rats can maneuver easily throughout your living space. They can enter through a hole that is only ½ inch in diameter!
Rats are proficient swimmers and can even enter spaces by way of drains or sewers.
Rats normally stay close to their nest, within 300 ft.
Signs of rat inhabitants: burrows, gnawing, tracks, runways, droppings.
Rat Facts
Rats are like mice in that they are nocturnal and have poor eyesight.
However, they have a keen sense of smell, taste and sound.
Physically, rats are larger than mice, with coarser fur and noticeably bigger heads and feet.
The most common residential rat species are the Norway rat, which inhabits low living spaces, and the roof rat (palm rat) which thrives in upper attic spaces.
Mice
Food Preferences
Mice strategically build nests discreetly near their food source, using shreds of paper or soft material.
Plants and cereal are favorite foods for mice.
Habits & Lifestyle
Mice live approximately 9-12 months.
A female mouse can produce up to 60 babies a year- and those 60 can begin to reproduce after just 6 short weeks!
Mice are fantastic climbers- they can even climb vertically!
They can also jump up to 13 inches high and run very quickly.
Mice can chew through electrical wiring systems, which can lead to an electrical fire!
A ¼ inch of a hole is all a mouse needs to slip inside!
Mice Facts
Mice are color blind, but their other senses are heightened.
Mice have a distinctly musky odor.Eek!
Mice are afraid of rats- for good reason, rats can eat mice!
Signs of mice inhabitants: gnawing, droppings and tracks.
Now that you know the fundamental differences between rats and mice, you along with Miller’s Rodent and Wildlife Solutions can tackle the problem from the right angle and eliminate the rodents!
Are You Ready to Get Your Inspection and Estimate? Give Miller's Rodent and Wildlife Solutionss a Call or Text today at 941-302-6009
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