Do Rats Always Leave Droppings in My Home?
WouterIt may be difficult to tell whether a rat is infesting your home or not, but you can quickly determine whether or not you have a rodent problem by finding their droppings. Rat droppings are similar in shape and size to that of a mouse’s, but they are larger and more visible. Rat feces are dark in colour, and are elongated and sharp in shape. If you notice droppings in your home, you need to get rid of them as soon as possible.
Rats usually enter homes through gaps in the walls or floors. Soon after their invasion, they will start making holes in these areas. Most holes are circular and about two inches in diameter. They are usually a few inches off the floor, and are positioned close to walls. Rat droppings are very distinctive and leave a musk odor.
Rat droppings have varying sizes and shapes, so you’ll want to pay attention to the size of the droppings. If they are consistently smaller than a grain of rice, they’re likely to be a rat dropping, but if they are consistently larger, they’re probably a mouse or cockroach dropping. Although the two species have similar shapes and colors, they are vastly different in size. Using a pencil to check if the droppings are fresh will be the easiest way to distinguish between a rat dropping and a mouse dropping. If it crumbles or breaks down, it’s likely to be an old one.
Rat droppings can be very dangerous because they carry harmful pathogens. They can cause illnesses such as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and salmonella. To prevent these infections, it’s important to disinfect surfaces with bleach and wear gloves when cleaning up rat droppings.
