Rats and mice are two of the most common pests found in homes and commercial buildings. When you suspect a rodent issue, you should know exactly which rodent you are dealing with first before you decide on a pest control method. Do you need rat removal or mouse removal? The reality is, a treatment that works well for mice may not work the same for rats. Mice and rats are both rodents that have distinguishing features, but also many similarities. That’s the reason why determining whether a rodent is a mouse or a rat can be difficult. You need to know their physical characteristics, eating habits as well as nesting habits in order to correctly identify the rodent. This will help you come up with an effective pest control solution.

The Key Differences Between Mice & Rats

Before getting started with rodent control, you need to find out what type of rodent has invaded your living environment. If you don’t know what you’re looking for, finding a suitable pest control solution will require some trial and error.

Rats

Typically, rats are larger and heavier than mice. The three most common rats found in Ontario are the Brown rat, the roof rat or Norway rat and the wood rat. Rats can weigh from 150g to 200g and can measure up to 24cm. The body of a rat is longer than a mouse, they also have larger ears, head, feet and longer tails. Brown rats obviously have brown fur, roof rats have dark gray or brown fur and wood rats can vary in shades of brown and gray fur with other colouration. Besides their physical appearance, they also have different eating habits as well. Rats eat fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, food scraps and even meat. They drink about ½ – 1 ounce of water every day. Their nesting place usually resides in well-hidden places such as attics, walls and even in trees.

Mice

Mice on the other hand are smaller in size and have smaller features. They only weigh about 20g to 30g fully grown. The most common mouse found in homes are field mice, deer mice and the common house mice. Rats and mice share a similar trait in terms of fur. Their fur can also range from black, brown, and grey but the belly of a mouse is usually lighter than their body. Mice feed mostly on plants and cereal grains like oat. Their nesting habits consist of places near their food source such as kitchens. They use soft materials such as furniture stuffing to build their nests.

Rat Removal & Control Methods

Now that we’ve determined some of the differences between a mouse or a rat, are you facing a growing rat problem at home? If so, here are some of the best rat removal methods: 

Traps:

Traps are widely used for rat control. Some traps work to kill rats and some traps work to capture rats. There are different types of traps for rat control which includes:  

  • Glue traps
  • Electronic traps
  • Live traps
  •  Snap traps

It’s important to look around hidden areas like your attic or basement to find out where the rats are frequenting. Once you’ve identified where they might be hiding, it’s important to set your traps there. Setting traps near their food source is also a good idea. Don’t use mouse traps for rats considering a mouse is much smaller. Make sure that traps are large enough for the rats. Don’t forget to keep track of where you’ve placed the traps so you don’t forget about them and can check on them later.

Liquid Rat Repellents: 

Rat repellent is used to lure them out of your house. Liquid repellents are based on cat scents that irritate rats. Rat repellents are easy to use and find but should be used with caution. All you need to do is spray the areas you think the rats are residing in. Using rat repellents will prevent rats from coming back as well.

Action Pest for Rat Removal

Rat removal is no easy task. Unless you’ve had experience in rat removal, it’s best to leave it to the professionals. Determining whether you have a mice issue or a rat issue is difficult enough of a task. Professionals are trained to be able to tell the difference. They know exactly what to look for so they can provide you with pest removal solutions as quickly as possible. Although these rat removal and control methods we’ve suggested can be sufficient, it’s always a good idea to leave it to the professionals if you see a repeat incident. They’ll help you figure out the best pest control methods by carefully analyzing your home. Action Pest will provide you with a free consultation, point out possible entryways and provide you options for effective pest control methods. Do you see signs of rats in your home? For effective and immediate results, visit Action Pest Control for more information. They’ll handle your situation professionally with confidence!