Thanks to Mickey Mouse, people may think mice are kind of cute. Rats, however, are almost always depicted as “bad” in cartoons, so people generally hate them. That said, if and when people have real, live mice or rats in their house– and they’re not pets– then they are not happy about that and want them gone.
Rats or Mice?
How would you know if you have mice or rats in your house? Signs to look for include poop droppings, gnawed holes, rub/gnaw marks, rodent nests, etc. Also, do you smell a strong urine odor? Do you hear “scampering” noises? Are your pets (dogs, cats, birds) acting unusual? You might have a rodent infestation in your house.
Rats are physically bigger than mice so their droppings are bigger– mouse droppings are small (less than ¼ inch) and pointed on both ends, while rat droppings are ½ inch or larger. Norway rat droppings are blunt at both ends while roof rat droppings have pointed ends. If you notice droppings that are shiny and putty-like in texture, those are fresh. Old poop gets hard and crumbly. Place bait or traps near droppings.
If you notice a gnawed clear-cut hole about the size of a dime, that’s a mouse hole. Rat holes are rough around the edges and about the size of a quarter.
If you notice shredded paper, string or other materials, you might have a mouse nest somewhere.
Rodents are nocturnal, so you’d likely hear their scampering noises in the walls at night. Also, if your pet dog barks or paws at a certain area, such as the bottom of a fridge or stove, he or she might be trying to get at a rodent! Do you suspect you’ve got rodents in your house, and you want them gone? Call Critter Capture at 251-680-5068 to share your situation and ask about rodent removal services.
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