You may have spotted a rodent at home and not quite sure what it is. Was it a big mouse, or a small rat, or some other rodent. Maybe you’ve seen droppings, but the evidence is inconclusive.
Both mice and rats are a growing problem for residents all across Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. Whether it’s a single family home, townhouse, condo or commercial facility, these pesky rodents will cause you trouble at some point. And if you live in Vancouver, your chances of encountering rats are extremely high, after all, the city was named the most rattiest city in Canada (5th year in a row)
Nobody likes living with pests at home.. no matter if it’s a mouse, rat, ant, silverfish, or anything else creepy. We’ve all had the unlucky pleasure of dealing with mice, but not everyone has had to deal with rats. So how can you tell if you have Mice or Rats?
In this post we hope to provide some tips to help with identifying your rodent.
TLDR;
- Mice and rats leave similar signs, but size, droppings, and behavior help tell them apart
- Mouse droppings are small and pointed, while rat droppings are larger and more blunt
- Rats are louder, stronger, and often leave bigger gnaw marks and damage
- Mice are more curious and tend to explore open areas more frequently
- Scratching sounds, nesting materials, and greasy rub marks are common signs for both
- Rats usually stay hidden and avoid open spaces, while mice are more active indoors
- Identifying the pest correctly is key since treatment methods and trap sizes differ
Or Summarise this article with.
Firstly, How big can they get?
Yes, it’s an important question to answer. How big can rodents grow?
And do we get those ginormous New York City rats that we always hear about on the news??
Great questions.. and we did the research to find the answer for you.
Down in the states, a giant rat called the Gambian Pouched Rat has been reported, measuring approx 3 feet and weighing 3lbs.😱 The Gambian pouched rat also known as the African giant pouched rat, is a species native to Sub-Saharan Africa and as of late is causing trouble in the Grassy Key area in the Florida Keys, after a private breeder allowed the animals to escape. (Source)
Luckily here in Metro Vancouver, nothing of the sorts has been spotted. However, a giant rat was filmed in a 7-Eleven in 2019.
The Scratching in the walls
That noise in the walls… is that mice or rats, or something else?
You might hear scratching and gnawing as they chew on your walls, wires, and other materials.
You could also hear them scurrying across your attic at night time.
Rats tend to make a lot more noise so when the rodent’s presence is audible, chances are you are hearing rats. However, both rats and mice scratch, scrape and scurry, so that’s not enough to determine what you have. Let’s take a deeper dive to understand more about Rats and Mice.
RELATED: Read our Technicians Best Mice removal tactics
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5 items of importance to distinguish rats from mice
With every pest treatment proper identification of the rodent important. Lower Mainland has problems with both Mice and Rats, and commonly are mice determined as a rats by mistake.
To determine what sort of rodent you have we’ll take a look at some of the distinguishing features: physical characteristics, droppings, and where they live.
Physical Characteristics
There are two types of rats you need to be aware of. The Norway rat and the Roof Rat.
Norway Rat: Brownish red, broad blunt nose, Small eyes & ears
Norway rats are quite large and like to burrow and therefore build their nests in wall voids, underneath sidewalks or decking, and may dig up and nest in vegetation. These rats can also turn up in attics and crawl spaces, though you most likely won’t see them during the day. Norway rats hide in daylight and come out at night.
Roof Rat: Dark grey/black, narrow pointy nose, large eyes and ears,
Roof rats are incredible climbers and are often found at higher levels such as trees, roofs, attics and on top of structures. This specific rat is highly adaptable and like the Norway rat mentioned above, is also a carrier of diseases that can be transmitted through bites and physical contact. So when in doubt call the rat control team at Westside pest control to look at it for you.
House Mouse:
They vary in colour from white to grey, and light brown to black. These critters have a strong sense of hearing and will communicate with other mice by squealing – some audible to humans and extends to an ultrasonic range that may only be picked up by your pets.
The City of Vancouver has provided a helpful mice-rat guide for further reading. Below is a chart taken from their website.
| Norway Rat | Roof Rat | House Mouse | |
| Colour | Brownish red | Dark grey/black | Greyish brown/black |
| Weight | 10 – 17 oz. | 8 oz. | ¾ oz. |
| Length (incl. tail) |
12 – 18 inches | 13 – 17 inches | 6 – 7 inches |
| Physical Features |
Broad, blunt nose
Small eyes & ears Thick, heavy body Coarse fur Hairless tail shorter |
Narrow, pointed nose
Large eyes & ears Smaller & sleeker than Dark coloured tail longer |
Large ears
Small, slender body Fine fur Nearly hairless tail as |
| No. of Litters | Avg. 4 – 7 per year | Avg. 4 – 6 per year | Avg. 8 per year |
| No. of Young | 6 – 12 per litter | 6 – 8 per litter | 5 – 7 per litter |
| Diet | Meats, fish, grains, almost anything |
Fruits, vegetables, seeds, grains | Grains, cereals, meats, fish, etc. |
| Nests | Burrows or crawlspaces 100-150 ft. from food & water |
Trees, ceilings, or attics 100-150 ft. from food & water |
Corners 10-30 ft. from food & water |
Comparison table provided by City Of Vancouver – Identify rats & Mice
Click to enlarge
Look For Droppings
The easiest way to determine mice from rats is based on their droppings. For rats we could say that their droppings are bigger than a grain of rice. Mouse droppings are smaller than a grain of rice.
Mice droppings are 3-6 mm long with pointed ends
Norway Rat droppings are ½ inch or bigger and blunt at both ends
Roof Rat droppings are around 12-13 mm in length and have pointed ends.
Where Are They Living
Mice, have no problem entering the kitchen, living room, or other places within your home. House mice are more active in the evening when you hear them climbing through the walls or scurrying along the baseboard.
Rats, on the other hand, prefer not to share their living space with humans so you’ll need to look in quieter spaces of your home. Basement, Attic, Crawl space, Furnace room, or shed.
Look for droppings and for visible signs of work ie. chewed through wiring, torn-up insulation. (Rats love to destroy insulation)
Nests
House mice: like to build nests in dark, soft areas such as insulation. Mice will shred paper and other materials to build their nests indoors.
Norway rats: As they are quite large and like to burrow and therefore build their nests in wall voids, underneath sidewalks or decking, may dig up and nest in vegetation. And can also turn up in attics and crawl spaces too.
Roof rat: This specific rat is highly adaptable and can thrive in almost any environment but prefers to nest in wood piles or garbage.
Other items to look out for
Chewed cables and wiring
Another clue can be gnawing marks on electrical cables, woodwork, plastic, brick and lead pipes, as well as torn bags of foodstuff and materials. Check out this hole one of our technicians found at a property.
Footprints
In dusty, unused areas of a building, rats often leave footprints or tail marks.
Grease marks
Roof rats can also leave a trial of grease marks behind them, which is another strong indicator that you have a roof or norway rat infestation. Grease marks occur when their coats rub on the walls as they tunnel their way to their nest, or in search of food.
Whats The Difference Between Rat And Mouse
At a glance, they can seem pretty similar. Once you know what to look for, it’s obvious.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Size
Mice are small and light. Rats are bigger, heavier, and leave a stronger impression when they move - Droppings
Mouse droppings are tiny with pointed ends. Rat droppings are larger and more capsule-shaped - Noise level
Mice make light scratching sounds. Rats sound heavier, more like something shifting or thumping - Behavior
Mice are curious and will explore. Rats are cautious and tend to stay hidden
If it feels like something “bigger” is moving around, trust that instinct. It usually lines up with rats.
Westside Pro Tip
Here’s a quick way to confirm what you’re dealing with without playing guessing games.
Set two traps side by side. One small mouse trap and one larger rat trap, both baited the same way.
Check which one gets triggered.
It’s simple, but it works. We’ve seen homeowners waste weeks using the wrong trap size and getting nowhere. Match the pest, and your results change fast.
Final Words
- Take note of the different physical characteristics, colour, nose, body shape etc.
- Check for droppings. Take a picture and then compare it to this guide
- Locations and nests – knowing where they are nesting can help identify what rodent it is.
- Look for a few tell tale signs – chewed wiring, grease marks, footprints.
Whatever you do, make sure to wear proper safety gloves if you are going near any possible rodent areas. It is very important to note that norway and roof rats are carriers of diseases that can be transmitted through bites or close physical contact.
If you discover you have mice and want to tackle the issue yourself check out our helpful guides basic mouse removal tactics and how to get rid of mice at home.
Westside Pest Control is the no1. rodent control company in Vancouver and the lower mainland. If there is a need for professional help with your rodent problems, please contact us today on 604-559-9060, we would be happy to help.
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FAQs
How to tell if you have rats or mice for sure?
Look at a combination of signs, not just one. Dropping size, noise level, and damage patterns all tell a story. Small droppings and light activity usually point to mice. Larger droppings, louder movement, and heavier gnawing suggest rats. If you’re still unsure, trap size tests or a quick inspection can confirm it pretty quickly.
Are rats more dangerous than mice?
Rats tend to cause more damage because they’re stronger and can chew through tougher materials. They also carry more risk when it comes to contamination due to their size and habits. Mice are still a problem, especially since they reproduce quickly, but rats usually create bigger issues in a shorter amount of time.
Does it matter if I treat mice and rats the same way?
Yes, it matters a lot. Mice and rats behave differently, and that affects how you control them. Trap size, placement, and even bait choice can vary. Using mouse traps for rats often leads to frustration, while rat strategies can be overkill for mice. Getting the ID right saves you time and effort right away.
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