Both rats and mice look similar, and you’ll normally be able to spot the difference pretty quickly from their physical attributes if you see them. However, if you do not see them (only their signs) or only see them at a glance, it may be harder to differentiate.
In this article, we’ll highlight some key differences, including physical appearance as well as the signs they leave if they’re present. It’s important you know the difference between the two as they can pose different levels of risk and the ways to control them can vary.
Regardless, both rats and mice can pose significant risks to humans and other animals. If you do feel that your property has unwanted guests, make sure you take steps to identify and control them at the earliest opportunity. As we will explore below, both of these critters are prolific breeders so dealing with them quickly can prevent larger infestations later down the line.
Size
It probably won’t be news to anyone to hear that rats are considerably larger than mice.
When they’re fully grown, it’s not particularly hard to notice the difference, however if there are young rats scurrying around which aren’t fully grown, it may not be possible to determine whether it’s a mouse or rat from the size alone.
Mice
The typical house mouse will be around 10-20cm in length from nose to tail and weigh up to 45g. They will have smaller feet than a rat in length and girth and their tail can often be longer than their bodies.
Rat
The common Norway rat (which is likely to be the pest you’re facing if rats are present) will be 15-45cm in length and weigh up to 300g, although they have been known to grow bigger. Their tail will often be small than their body in length and they will have larger, thicker paws.
If you can get a good look at the pest, their bodies and tales can indicate what you’re up against. If you cannot physically see them, any paw prints they leave, such as in dusty rooms, can be a good indicator.
The difference in size of these animals not only helps you identify them, but also affects what size trap you will need to catch them. Rats, by their nature, require larger traps with sufficient enough power to kill them instantly and humanely. Mice need smaller traps which ensure they target the correct areas (of the back of their necks) to get a humane kill.
Appearance
They are similar in terms of their appearance, they both have big ears, pink feet and long pink tails. However there are some key differences.
Mice
Mice tend to be browner in colour compared to a rat. They also have lighter coloured under bellies, proportionally larger ears for their body size and thinner tails which are covered in hairs. Their bodies are slender and noses are pointier than that of a rat.
Rats
Rats can also be brown but often have a slight tint of grey. They have smaller ears in proportion to their bodies, have thicker tails which are hairless, broader bodies and much blunter noses. Rats fur will also be very greasy which can leave distinct markings on walls and surfaces they frequent often.
Behaviour
They both scurry along the floor, make unwanted noises in the night and can gnaw through objects, however some key differences in behaviour include:
Inquisitiveness
Mice are inquisitive by nature and tend to be more comfortable around new objects. Rats on the other hand can be very nervous and will actively avoid anything new in their environment. This makes it significantly harder to trap a rat than a mouse.
Social Lives
Mice tend to be more territorial and are unlikely to be socialising in large groups. Conversely, rats are very social with other rats and can often be seen in groups, creating complex social structures.
Access to Nesting Sites/Food
Mice can inhabit areas rats can’t access. Put simply, this is due to their smaller size allowing them to squeeze through smaller holes than rats.
Preferred Nesting Areas
In terms of nesting, rats (especially brown rats) generally prefer to be on the ground or under it, creating burrows under buildings, although black rats are happy to climb and build their nests in high-up places. Mice on the other hand will happily climb up anything they can access to build nests in any part of a building.
Mice will more readily build their nests nearer food sources, especially plants and grain, whereas rats are more likely to build their nests in sheltered areas, such as under buildings, and travel to their food source.
Diets
Neither rats nor mice are particularly fussy about what they eat. Mice tend to prefer grains and seeds, however like rats they’ll dine on anything from cereals and meat to insects and fruit which can all be accessed through your bins or cupboards. There are slight differences in their feeding behaviour though.
For example, if you are aware that fruit is being eaten by a rodent, especially in a garden, this is more likely to be done by a rat than a mouse.
In addition, when mice eat cereals, they remove the outer shell of the seed and feast on the middle part. Rats on the other hand will cut through the entire grain. Checking to see whether there are remains of shells or chopped up grain where there is an infestation can be a good indicator of what kind of rodent you’re facing.
Droppings
If they have access to a stable food source, both rats and mice will poo a lot and it can be one of the best ways to identify the type of rodent you’re dealing with as well as the potential size of the infestation.
Mice
Mouse droppings will be smaller, normally a similar size to a grain of rice (3-6 mm long), pointed on each end and can be found scattered about an area that is infested (as they tend to explore more). They will excrete roughly 80 per day.
Rats
Rat droppings are shinier, more curved (sort of like a banana), about 3 times the size (1.2cm-1.8cm long) and will often be located in concentrated areas either where they nest, feed or between the two. They will excrete roughly 40 droppings per day.
Breeding
Both rats and mice are prolific breeders. They can also reproduce all year round, which makes it important to get on top of the problem as soon as it’s identified.
Mice
Mice usually have between five and ten litters a year of around six babies each time. However, there infants normally become mature and able to reproduce in a shorter time frame than rats.
Rats
Rats can have around 6 litters of babies in a year, each litter being up to 12 infants. The babies can become mature after a few weeks and go on to have their own litters.
Conclusion
Rats and mice are both rodents and share certain qualities. At a glance, a small rat and a mouse may be relatively indistinguishable, however there are plenty of ways to tell them apart. Mice are physically smaller than rats, behave differently, leave different signs and can inhabit different areas. By looking at all these factors holistically, you can identify your intruders and ensure you are familiar with the specific risks they pose, which you can read about here, and can pick the most appropriate method to get rid of them, which you can read about here.
This guide can give you a good indication as to what you’re facing. Once identified, we supply a range of high-quality rat and mouse poisons, bait boxes, traps and repellents to get rid of these rodents quickly and efficiently.
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