Mouse or Rat? How to Tell Which Rodent Is Invading Your Home (And What to Do About It)

While they’re often lumped together as common pests, mice and rats are very different in terms of size, behaviour, damage, and how they’re treated by pest control professionals. Knowing which rodent you’re dealing with can help you act quickly — and more effectively.

Let’s break down the key differences between the two, and how to identify which pest is making itself at home in your house.

Mice: The Stealthy Invaders

Common in Canada, especially in fall and winter, mice are small, agile, and quiet. The most common species indoors is the house mouse (Mus musculus), although rural areas may also see the deer mouse.

Key Traits:

• Size: Tiny! About 6–10 cm long, not including the tail

• Tail: Long and thin, with fine fur

• Ears: Large and rounded

• Snout: Pointed and delicate

• Droppings: Tiny (3–6 mm), like dark grains of rice

• Behaviour: Curious and bold — they’ll explore traps and unfamiliar objects
  

Signs You Have Mice:

• Small droppings around food, cupboards, or baseboards

• Scratching sounds in the walls or attic

• Chewed-up food packaging

• Nests made from shredded fabric, insulation, or paper
  

Rats: The Bold Destroyers

Rats are bigger, louder, and a lot more destructive than mice. In Canadian cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal, Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) are the most common — though roof rats are occasionally found in warmer indoor areas.

Key Traits:

• Size: Large — up to 25 cm long, not including the tail

• Tail: Thick, scaly, and hairless

• Ears: Small and set back

• Snout: Blunt and wide

• Droppings: Large (up to 2 cm), capsule-shaped

• Behaviour: Cautious and clever — often trap-shy and hard to catch

Signs You Have Rats:

• Bigger droppings in concentrated areas

• Oily rub marks on baseboards or wall corners

• Gnawed wood, plastic, wires (fire hazard!)

• Burrows near foundations or in garages/sheds

• Heavy, musky smell from nesting areas

• Scampering or squeaking in the basement or behind walls at night

Why It Matters: Mice vs. Rats

Understanding which pest is in your home helps pest control professionals (like us at Bada Pest Control) determine the best treatment method. Mice and rats have different behaviours, nesting preferences, and even different types of traps and baits that work best on each.

• Mice are more likely to nest indoors, in tight spaces and high up.

• Rats often nest outdoors or in basements, and burrow under concrete or behind walls.

Rats also pose greater structural risks and carry more serious diseases. If you’re seeing large chew marks or big droppings — don’t delay.

What You Can Do Right Now

Regardless of which rodent is crashing your place, here are some smart first steps:

• Seal entry points: Even small cracks can invite mice (or rats with enough motivation).

• Clean up food and crumbs: No midnight snacks for rodents!

• Store food in airtight containers

• Remove clutter: Especially in basements and garages

• Take out the trash regularly

• Set traps — but remember, the right trap depends on the right rodent
  

Still Unsure? Call the Pros.

If you’re not sure whether it’s a mouse or a rat — or if you’ve got a full-blown infestation — Bada Pest Control is here to help. Our expert team can identify the pest, find where they’re nesting, and get rid of them quickly and safely.

We use humane, effective pest control strategies tailored to Canadian homes and commercial properties — and we don’t leave until the squeaking stops for good.

Think you’ve got an unwanted guest? Contact Bada Pest Control today for an inspection — and let’s evict those furry freeloaders once and for all.