No one wants to think about mouse poop or rat poop in their house, but it’s important to know what rodent waste looks like so that you can address the problem early-on. From the extermination experts at Precise Termite & Pest Control, here are some tips for identifying mouse poop and also tips for getting mice out of your house.
Identifying Mouse Droppings
Mouse droppings are best described as small, pellet-shaped objects that are dark brown in color and have pointed ends. The fecal droppings of mice are usually around ¼ inch in length. While newer droppings will be darker and shinier, older droppings are drier and chalkier in appearance.
However, there are different types of mice that exist in our region, such as house mice, deer mice, and white-footed mice. There are slight differences in the poop of these types of mice, but they all look pretty similar to the untrained eye and can be accurately associated with mice when addressing a household infestation.
What Does Rat Poop Look Like?
Although rat poop resembles mouse poop in some ways, it also has distinctive characteristics that you can see as a homeowner. Since rats are larger than mice, rat poop is larger too. It is more like a ½ inch long and even up to one inch in length.
The droppings from rats are cylindrical in shape and usually found in groups. They can even resemble raisins or coffee beans, versus mice poop that looks more like chocolate sprinkles. Yes, these things are gross to think about but very helpful when trying to figure out what type of rodent has taken up residence in your home!
Why Understanding Mouse Poop Is Important
If you can identify mouse poop in your house and even determine how old or new it is, you have a much better chance of figuring out how mice are getting into your home. It is common to find mouse fecal droppings around entry points, along with holes chewed through walls, greasy marks on walls, and the smell of urine.
The appearance of mouse poop can help you know if the droppings are new or old, which is useful to determine whether mice are currently inhabiting a certain area or it’s been a while since they’ve been in that location.
Get Extermination Help for Mice and Rats
Whether you have mice or rats, Precise Termite & Pest Control can help you identify the pests that have taken over your home and get rid of them for good. We have been providing excellent pest control services for more than three decades and pride ourselves on our quick, efficient, and affordable service provided by top experts in the extermination industry.
Since mouse poop and rat poop carry risks of spreading disease, we recommend having a professional exterminator handle fecal droppings left behind in your home. Not only will we clean up the mess, but we’ll also use various techniques to get existing mice out of your house and deter them from coming back in the future.
To learn more about our rodent removal processes or to schedule your free inspection, please call us at 866-971-2847 or contact us via online form.