The house mouse mus musculus norway rat rattus norvegicus and roof rat rattus rattus species are in the muridae family which is the largest family of rodents and mammals in the world.
Roof rat vs house mouse.
The most common rats found in or near homes are the norway rat and the roof rat.
23 days litter size.
Rats are medium sized to large rodents.
House mice are nocturnal creatures.
The most common species of mouse found homes is the aptly named house mouse.
A roof rat will be colored brown or black and if you have ever had the opportunity to view one up close or even hold it you would see and feel that the fur is very soft and smooth.
A norway rat has capsule shaped feces while a roof rat has spindle shaped droppings and a house mouse has rod shaped excrement.
Roof rats typically have litters of 5 to 10 babies.
Rats and mice can squeeze through holes just large enough to pass their heads through as small as for mice and inch for rats.
The snout of the rat is more blunt than that of the.
The roof rat is the smaller of the two and it is often mistaken for a mouse due to their large ears and pointed noses.
6 12 per litter no.
They are curious and will explore new things making them easier to trap.
Let s explore the rat vs mouse debate and decide.
Rats live in similar colony structures.
So if rats and mice have found food around your home you might find their droppings in the kitchen as well as the attic or other places they hide.
They can have 3 to 6 litters per year.
Of these rodent species which one is worse to have in your home.
These mice have a light brown body with some gray shading and a dark tail.
While there are several species of rats and mice i will examine the two most common ones the roof or black rat and the house mouse both seen in the above photograph.
Also known as brown rat sewer rat water rat gray rat house rat and wharf rat color.
Thick or stocky body.
As you can see the biggest difference is size.
These rodents are grayish brown in color with a light yellow underside.
Blunt nose short ears sexual maturity.
Habits of each rodent.
They reach maturity in about 7 to 8 weeks.
30 to 45 cm 12 18 body.
Roof rat large eyes large ears slender longer hairless tail.
Small head small feet pointed snout large ears with some hair.
Rats grow to a body of 8 inches and a tail of 9 inches and a weight of almost a pound.
Steady eater but afraid of new.
They are social and territorial and tend to be bolder than rats.
Roof rats this species is agile and slender though roof rats are about the same length as norway rats.
Droppings are typically found around where these creatures eat.
1 2 to 1 lb 10 17 oz length including tail.
However rats may grow to be as long as 40 cm or more and weigh considerably more than mice.
Families of mice consist of one dominant male several females and their young.
Their coats are white gray brown or black in color and are often soiled enough to leave grease marks on touched surfaces.
