Rats and mice are the common rodents found almost everywhere in the world. They both have a habit of gnawing on different objects around the house. In Nashville, seeing rats and mice outside or inside homes is pretty standard. However, it is not a pleasant experience if you find them inside your house.
They are not only going to damage structures but can also cause various diseases in humans. If you see even a single mouse, do not take it lightly. Make sure you are taking care of the infestation and not letting it slide. As far as their appearance is concerned, mice are smaller than rats.
However, they both are very much capable of causing a lot of damage. Warmth and moisture are the things these pests are attracted to. Furthermore, rats and mice can also damage the electrical wiring and can possibly cause electrical fires.
They also build their nests inside homes; they collect different materials for them. Shredded papers, fabrics, and some other things are used for this. Nashville pest control can help you fight better with the infestation.
How do mice and rats differ from each other?
They differ from each other based on different characteristics; we will look at some of them below:
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Differences in the size
Mice are usually twelve to twenty centimeters in length. However, rats can be longer, almost about forty centimeters in length. This information alone is not going to help you differentiate these pests from each other; you will need more information. If there is a young rat, it can look like a mouse. Thus, you can mistake a rat for a mouse.
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Weight differences
Mice, being smaller than rats, are also lightweight as compared to rats. If the rat is fully grown, then it can even weigh around a pound. Mouse, on the other hand, is not one pound in weight and is rather lighter.
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Reproduction habits
They both reproduce quickly and in a short span of time, and even if the infestation seems more minor, it will not take long to become a big one. When mice turn 4 weeks, they start to reproduce.
When it comes to producing more babies, rats win this race. Two thousand babies are made by rats, and mice can give birth to three hundred of them in a single year.
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Dropping differences
Feces are also more prominent in rats than in mice. The feces of rats are round in shape at the ends. On the other hand, mice have much smaller feces, and the ends are somewhat pointed. Professionals can tell which one it is just by having a look at their feces. Thus, they can determine which one of these pests you have at your place.
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Habits of rats and mice
Rats prefer to live in burrows, and they also build their own nests. Attics and walls are preferable places for them to infest. Mice prefer some area underneath from where they can quickly get to their food source.
How do rats and mice differ in eating habits?
As compared to mice, rats have a lot more food. It is simply because rats have a larger body than mice. Protein-rich food is what attracts them; it can be pet food, cheese, or fish. Mice prefer something even healthier than this. Their diet includes grains and nuts.
Furthermore, these rodents are also plentiful at adapting to different environments. An interesting fact about mice is that they will even eat their tail if they do not have anything better to eat.
Please do not ignore them!
The worst thing you can do is overlook their infestation. You will do yourself a favor if you do not take them lightly and have a way to deal with them.
You can contact them as soon as you notice any activity around your place. They will use safe methods to get them out, making sure kids and pets remain unaffected.
