🐀 How to Tell if You Have Rats or Mice in Your Home

Hearing scratching in your walls or attic? Finding droppings in your kitchen? Many Treasure Coast homeowners—especially in Port St. Lucie, Vero Beach, and Hobe Sound—deal with rodent problems. But one of the most common questions is: “Do I have rats or mice?”

Knowing the difference helps you understand the severity of the infestation and why professional rodent control is often necessary.

⚠️ Why It Matters if You Have Rats or Mice

While both are destructive and unsanitary, rats and mice behave differently:

• 🐁 Mice – Smaller, curious, and quick breeders. They often explore and leave signs throughout your home.

• 🐀 Rats – Larger, more cautious, and much more destructive. They cause major damage and are harder to trap.

Correct identification ensures proper treatment and prevention.

🔍 Key Differences Between Rats and Mice

1. Droppings

• Mice: Tiny (⅛–¼ inch), rice-shaped, with pointed ends.

• Rats: Larger (½–¾ inch), capsule-shaped, blunt ends.

2. Size & Appearance

• Mice: 2–4 inches long (body), slender with large ears and thin tails.

• Rats: 7–9 inches long (body), thicker bodies with scaly, shorter ears and long, hairless tails.

3. Behavior

• Mice: Curious and often seen exploring kitchens, pantries, and garages.

• Rats: Cautious and more secretive, often sticking to attics, walls, and outdoor burrows.

4. Gnaw Marks

• Mice: Small chew marks on food packaging, wires, and wood.

• Rats: Much larger gnaw marks—can chew through drywall, PVC, and even soft metal.

5. Sounds

• Mice: Light scratching or scurrying, especially at night.

• Rats: Heavier thumping or gnawing sounds, sometimes mistaken for squirrels.

🚫 Why DIY Isn’t Enough

Setting a few traps may catch a mouse or two, but full infestations are difficult to eliminate without professional help:

• Mice reproduce quickly, with litters every few weeks.

• Rats are trap-shy and avoid new objects in their environment.

• Droppings and urine contaminate food, air, and surfaces.

Without addressing entry points, they’ll keep coming back.

🛠️ Professional Rodent Control on the Treasure Coast

At Rogue Pest & Wildlife Control, we provide complete rat and mouse solutions:

1. Inspection 🔍 – Identify species, nesting sites, and entry points.

2. Exclusion 🧱 – Seal holes and gaps around your home.

3. Trapping & Removal 🪤 – Targeted for rats or mice depending on the infestation.

4. Sanitation 🧼 – Clean and disinfect contaminated areas.

5. Ongoing Protection 🛡️ – Optional bait station program with bi-monthly pest control service.

⭐ Why Homeowners Trust Rogue Pest & Wildlife Control

• Family-owned and local to Port St. Lucie 🌴

• Licensed and insured in Florida wildlife and pest control

• Humane, effective, and guaranteed services

• Affordable rodent control options

📞 Take Back Your Home from Rats & Mice

If you’re finding droppings, hearing scratching, or seeing rodents, don’t wait. The problem will only grow.

👉 Call Rogue Pest & Wildlife Control today at (772) 342-0262 for professional rat and mouse control in Port St. Lucie, Vero Beach, and Hobe Sound.