Does a Mouse Infestation Mean You Don't Have Rats?

Although it is not true that a mouse infestation means you don’t have rats, you should definitely check your house for the presence of rats. Rats can carry diseases and bacteria through their droppings. You can also find their brown surprises in your cupboards or near their nests. They tend to make their homes inside of insulation and old furniture.

Rats and mice have very similar appearances, though they have wider faces and bigger noses. However, mice have small heads, tiny noses, and tiny paws. In fact, adult mice are only about half the size of baby rats. In a year, a mouse can give birth to 60 babies, whereas a rat can parent 70 or more youngsters.

Keeping mice and rats together can create a hostile environment. Rats and mice should only live with other members of the same species. Hamsters are solitary, so they don’t live with other rodents. The exception to this rule is the African Soft Fur Rat.

Mice will be looking for food and shelter during the fall. They will make holes as small as a quarter-inch, and will nest near food. A nest is a ball-shaped nest of rags or paper lined with finely shredded material. The droppings of mice are smaller and thinner than the droppings of rats. Moreover, they are less visible, and their nests are usually hidden.