The Differences Between Mice and Rats in Lexington, KY

If you hear scurrying in the night, have seen rodent droppings in your home, or suspect an infestation of any kind, it is time to act. At IPM Pest and Termite, your best choice for mouse and rat control in Lexington, Kentucky, we want you to know the differences between these two pests so you can better decide how to handle your infestation problem.

Common Distinguishing Feature

• Mice are very small, and can be easily confused with a young rat.
• Mice usually have long, thin tails that are significantly longer than their bodies, large ears, and short fur that is lighter on the underside of their bodies.
• Mice typically weigh between 12-45 grams.
• Their droppings have pointed ends, usually around 1½ millimeters in size, producing up to 80 droppings a day.
• Common lifespan is a year or less.

• Mice will eat anything they can find but prefer plants and grains.
• Mice will build a hidden nest close to a food source, using any type of shredded material to create their habitat.
• Mice are very curious and will investigate anything new in their area.

• Female mice can begin to reproduce at 6 months in age.
  
• Female mice can have up to 10 litters in their lifespan, with up to 6 young in each liter.
  

Common Distinguishing Features

• There are two varieties of rats—the brown and black rat.
• Black rats are slender with a pointed nose, and brown rats have a thicker body with a blunt nose.
• Rats have small ears, large feet, and a thick, hairless tail.
• They typically weigh between 150-300 grams.
• Their droppings are banana shaped and 10-20 millimeters in size.

• Rats will eat almost anything they can find.

• Rats burrow: they can dig under buildings, near fence lines, and under other common household items like plants and boxes. Usually rats will stay within three hundred feet of their burrow.

• Rats can enter a building through a hole as small as a half of an inch in diameter. They are also strong swimmers, and can enter buildings through broken drains and toilets.

• Female rats begin to breed when they are 3 months old.
• Female rats can have up to 6 litters in their lifespan, each litter containing up to 12 young.

If you think one of these small pests may be living in your home, contact the experts at IPM Pest and Termite today. With our A+ rating from the BBB and as a member of Angie’s List, you can rest easy knowing that your pest control problems are being handled by a company that you can trust.