Identifying Rats vs. Mice: What’s the Difference?

Rats and mice are both troublesome pests to have in your home. While they may look very similar, there are a lot of distinctions between them. This guide teaches you the major differences between rats and mice and the various ways to handle them in your home.

Physical Characteristics of Rats vs. Mice

One of the most useful differences between rats and mice to be aware of is their physical differences. They share many similarities but have enough distinct features to help you tell them apart. These are the physical differences between the two to take note of:

Coat coloration: Both species can have gray, white and brown coats. However, only rats can have black coats.
Body size: Mice range from 1 to 7 inches in length. They weigh less than an ounce, with females weighing less than males. Rats are much bigger and range from 15 to 18.5 inches on average. They weigh 14 to 24 ounces, making them much heavier.
Head: Mice have pointy heads with triangular snouts. They have long whiskers that help them navigate through dark environments. Rats’ heads are bigger in proportion to their larger bodies. Their snouts are blunter than the pointy noses of mice.
Ears: Mouse ears are large, round and droopy. A rat’s ears are smaller and flatter than mouse ears.
Tails: A rat’s tail is long, hairless, smooth and pink. A mouse’s tail is long, slender, scaly and hairy. Their tails resemble the colors of their coat.

Differences in Behavior

Using physical differences is effective if you see rodents infesting your house. However, they are sneaky creatures, so you may not get many chances to see them up close. Their behavior is often a more reliable method of identifying what is living in your home. These are the key contrasts between the behaviors of rats and mice:

Social habits: Mice are aggressive and territorial and will not live with other mice or species. Rats are social creatures, have larger families and socialize more with other rats.
Curiosity: By nature, mice are very curious creatures. They will eagerly investigate new things, like mouse traps. Rats are more cautious and avoid the unfamiliar. Traps or bait need to be set in places you know a rat will be or is familiar with.
Nesting: Mice are better climbers and will have easy access to attics. Since they are smaller than rats, they can come in and out of your house through small gaps and holes. Crawlspaces and basements are better suited for rats because they prefer to make their nests on the lower levels of a house.

Other Identification Techniques

Here are some other helpful identification tips to tell the difference between a rat and a mouse in your home:

Stolen food: Being bigger, rats will eat far more food than mice. They also hoard food, so they will take more than they need. Mice are small and eat much less than a rat will. They tend not to move food and will eat food at the source.
Evidence: Rats are sneaky and cautious. When they look for food, they leave very few traces behind. If you notice food is missing without explanation, you might have rats. They will gnaw through packaging and leave larger holes than mice do. Mice are not as courteous and leave droppings where they travel and eat.
Droppings: You are more likely to see mice droppings because rats will defecate where they feel safe. Urine is an important part of how mice communicate with each other and attract mates. Mice droppings are about a quarter of an inch in size and look like small black grains of rice. Rat droppings look like elongated ovals and are three-quarters of an inch long.
Shared indicators: Both will make scratching noises while they climb, dig and claw things. Scurrying noises will tell you if they are in the walls or the ceiling with mice being more likely to live in higher places. Gnawing is common rodent behavior. Look for chewed wires, insulation, packaging, wood, cardboard and paper. Both use these materials to make their nests. They will also eat pet food and food scraps.

Common Rat and Mice Species

You may encounter a wide variety of rat and mouse species in Texas, but there are two that you should be familiar with more than others. Norway rats, also known as brown rats, and house mice are the two most likely species you will encounter. Here are some useful facts to know about each of them:

Norway rats: Despite their name, Norway rats are originally from China. They traveled to the U.S. in the 18th century, stowing on international trade boats. These rats have dense and heavy bodies covered in shaggy gray or brown fur with some black hairs peppered on their coats. They have white or light gray underbellies with blunt snouts and shorter tails than their bodies. Their poor vision means they must rely on long whiskers to get around.
House mouse: House mice have round bodies and light brown or gray fur. Their underbellies have a light cream coloration. Look out for a light layer of fur, large ears and pointed faces and snouts. They have tails roughly the same length or longer than their bodies. House mice breed quickly and can adapt to new conditions, so dealing with them promptly is important.

Prevention and Control

Prevention and control tactics for mice and rats include:

Get a cat: A cat is an effective way of dealing with mice. Cats are fantastic hunters and will easily hunt down mice as they search for food, reducing the chances of future infestations. Cats are less effective at hunting rats, which are more aggressive and larger.
Essential oils: Essential oils, such as peppermint and clove, act as mouse deterrents. Mix a few drops with dish soap and water and spray it in your cupboards, pantry and other areas of your house. You can also soak cotton balls in essential oils. Leave them near entry and exit points a mouse might use. These smells do not deter rats.
Traps: Mice are more likely to fall for traps left around the house. Humane traps will trap them without killing them so they can be released away from your house in the wild.
Sealing: Use duct tape to seal open areas that keep mice out. The best places to tape are beneath the sink, in cupboards, around pipes and in other openings. This might be a temporary solution as it does not look aesthetically pleasing. For rats, you must seal gaps with steel, wood, cement and caulk to keep them from gnawing their way back in.
Deep cleaning: Clean your home with ammonia-based cleaning products, including the inside and outside of your walls. Declutter your home and never leave out food or dirty dishes. Moving pet food to hard-to-reach places overnight is also a good idea. These are more effective solutions for rat infestations.
Pest control: Rats and mice are cunning, carry disease and can quickly reproduce. Calling a pest control service to eliminate them is your best option.

Keep Your Home Rodent-Free With Us!

Barefoot Mosquito & Pest Control can help you keep rats and mice far away from your home. Our rodent control services are affordable and effective. Call us today at 512-400-2008 (Austin), 210-981-3331 (San Antonio) or 713-554-9430 (Houston). Get a free quote from us right now online.