Rodents Facts & Information

The mice you typically see in houses are typically 2.5 to 4 inches long (tails not included). Their fur is normally light brown or gray with cream-colored bellies. Their eyes are beady, their ears are large, and their pointed snouts make them different from large rats. On the other hand, rats are larger and bulkier than mice, typically growing 6 to 9 inches long, not including the tail.

Moreover, you may notice their droppings, which look dark, tiny, and pointed at both ends. They are normally scattered around drawers, cupboards, or along wooden baseboards. Their tracks and greasy smudge marks normally follow tight spaces or walls where they frequently travel.

Since rodents such as mice and rats are survivalists, they easily squeeze through openings, using whiskers to navigate the tightest crawlspaces. Active mostly every night, they depend on their keen sense of smell and hearing to detect food and avoid danger.

In addition, rodents build nests from insulation, foundation, fabric, or paper, normally tucked within wall cavities, underneath clutter, sewers, or other complex hideouts. These are creatures of habit, normally running the same paths unless disturbed. That makes them very sneaky, but also predictable if you know what to watch for.

Rodents are masters of slipping into the forgotten parts of your home as they tuck themselves into places you rarely check, behind the fridge, within attic insulation, inside crawlspaces, or behind the drywall. You won’t see them frequently, but you’ll definitely hear them: scuttling at night, scratching on walls, or gnawing at something unseen.

When they are not hoarding scraps or shredding materials for nesting, they’re contaminating food storage or leaving trails of waste. Mice tend to nest near steady food sources, whereas rats dig in deeper, creating elaborate runways behind walls or under foundations. Give them warmth, crumbs, and cover, and they’ll most probably turn your quiet home into a secret city.