Skip to content

Free Shipping on Orders Over $40

Menu
0
Skip to content

Free Shipping on Orders Over $40

0

Your Cart is Empty

Home / Bug Blog
Previous  / Next

What Does Mouse and Rat Poop Look Like? 

Rat poop and Mouse poop

If you think you may have a rodent infestation in your home or business, one of the first signs to look for is the presence of droppings. These rodent droppings can help give you a clearer picture on what type of rodent is in your home, where they spend their time, and how many there are. This information can then be used to develop a good pest control plan to get rid of them.

Mouse Droppings

Appearance: House mice and field mice are two common household pests in the United States. Their droppings are similar in appearance, though deer mice are typically slightly smaller. Mouse droppings range in size from ⅛ - ¼ inches long and are dark brown or black with a cylindrical shape. They are also pointed on one or both ends. The look can be compared to a small, dark grain of rice. Mice produce up to 75 fecal pellets every day. Location: Mice are voracious eaters and will snack continually throughout the night. This habit means that it is common to find mouse poop scattered all around the areas that they frequent, from their nests to their food sources. Common locations where you might find mouse droppings include: under kitchen appliances, cupboards, pantries, along walls, utility closets, bathrooms, and storage areas. Since mice are smaller than rats, they can get into smaller areas like drawers and small holes.
mouse droppings

 Mouse droppings by NY State IPM Program at Cornell University via Flickr (cropped)

Rat Droppings

Appearance: The two main pest species of rats are roof rats and brown (Norway) rats. The droppings differ in appearance between the two species. Roof rats produce droppings that are about ½ an inch long, black, and pointed at the ends. Many say that they resemble the shape of a curved sausage. Common brown rats are larger and produce larger droppings. They are typically longer than ½ an inch, oblong shaped, and blunt at both ends. Rats produce 30-50 droppings a day. Location: Roof rats are excellent climbers and spend much of their time above ground. They can be found in trees, on roofs, in attics, and on top of storage shelves. Their droppings can be found scattered in areas where they frequently spend time. Brown rats are much larger and prefer to spend their time at or below ground level. Droppings may be found in garages, basements, crawl spaces, along walls, and other wider more open areas. Brown rats tend to eat their food all at once rather than continuously like mice. This means that their droppings tend to be found in small groups.
norway rat droppings
Norway rat droppings by NY State IPM Program at Cornell University via Flickr (cropped)

Rodent Control

Once you have identified the rodent causing trouble, you can set about to get rid of them. Harris offers a wide range ofrodent traps and baits to help you. PF Harris is America’s oldest EPA registered brand, so you can feel confident that you are getting the best. For more information, check outRodents: The Ultimate Guide.