When you are dealing with a pest problem, the first thing you have to do is identify which kind of pest it is exactly, and learning the difference between rats and mice is very important when it comes to calling in expert rodent pest control in  London. If you’re looking for some pointers on how to differentiate them, here are the best ways to do just that.

Rats

Rats are much bigger than mice, so you will be able to spot them a little easier simply due to that fact alone. Rats leave faeces that are bigger than that of a mouse, so if you see anything larger than, say, a grain of rice, you are probably dealing with a rat. Rats don’t tend to have as much fur as a mouse. Instead, these pests have a wirier coat. They are also greasier than mice, so you will see little paw prints over all of the surfaces that they come in contact with. This means it can sometimes be easier to detect them, but not always.

Mice

Mice, in comparison, are smaller than rats. They don’t tend to be larger than 20 cm and they have larger, floppier ears and tiny, hairy tails. Mice move faster than rats simply due to their smaller size and can squeeze through holes as small as a penny. They are nocturnal creatures, like rats, and will stay close to the wall as they move throughout your home for protection.

Telling them apart

This is the hardest part. What it comes down to is studying the habits of each one and learning how they operate. If you are looking at the faeces, you will see that a mouse’s is smaller and tends to be tear shaped. A rat’s faeces are larger and shaped longer and more like a cylinder.

In terms of look, a rat has a slimmer more elongated face, and is larger with a longer tail, whereas a mouse is smaller and with a shorter, hairier tail.

Both of these pests should be taken care of by a professional, and if you think you have an idea which one is in your home, certainly tell the professional when s/he arrives, but odds are that s/he will have more sophisticated ways of telling the difference, too, and can even confirm what you think is the case.

The truth of it is that there is no absolute way to figure out what is living in your home unless you see them both side by side, but do your best to differentiate using these criteria.