Oct 6, 2022 | Pest Control, Wildlife
We never expect our homes to fall victim to rodent invaders, but it can happen to anyone! Getting rid of these critters can be difficult, but with the help of a wildlife control company, it can be made possible. Before reaching out to someone for assistance, be sure you’re identifying these rodents correctly. Here are some of the most common rodents found in the South.
Deer Mouse
Often referred to as field mice, these rodents are typically found in the woodlands and desert areas. They rarely invade residential properties but will sometimes seek shelter in our homes for winter since they don’t hibernate. When indoors, deer mice are typically found in basements or attics. The biggest threat about them is that they can transmit the dangerous hantavirus, so it’s vital to get them taken care of as soon as possible.
House Mouse
Just like the deer mouse, these mice also carry diseases and shouldn’t be kept in your home for long once discovered. The house mouse prefers to move along baseboards and countertops and can be seen eating anything they can find. They will contaminate your food and can transmit diseases like salmonella and even the bubonic plague. They are also known to cause structural damage such as creating tunnels in walls and chewing exposed wires.
Norway Rats
These stocky, heavy-bodied rats are larger and more aggressive than the roof rat. They rely heavily on human activity for survival and will eat anything like cereal grains, meats, fish, nuts, and some fruits. Norway rats are more active at night and can cause considerable damage to homes, gardens, and structures. The main concern is the diseases they are known to spread, which include jaundice, rat bite fever, and salmonella.
Roof Rats
Known as a serious pest problem, they are also dependent on humans for survival and will usually infest homes. They have padded feet that make it easier for them to climb, so they are usually found in attics, eaves, and roof lines. Roof rats are known for spreading multiple diseases, including salmonella, leptospirosis, and rat bite fever. They contaminate food when they are foraging, impacting not just humans, but also pets and livestock.
If you think you have a rodent problem, it’s important to get it taken care of as soon as possible. Reach out to your local wildlife control company so they can create a customized plan to rid your home of rodents.
Aug 29, 2022 | Florida Pest Control
Miami Pest Control: Identifying Common Rodents
Whether you find them in your attic, basement, crawlspace, or just near your property, spotting any rodents on your property is never ideal. These pests can cause significant property damage and pose health risks to you and your family. To avoid these sneaky creatures, it’s important for each homeowner to be aware of the different types of common rodents that will invade their Miami homes.
Norway Rat
One of the largest species of rats, Norway rats measure from 13 to 18 inches in body length, are known to have thick fur, and are usually brown in color. These rats prefer to live closer to humans, searching for any food source available. They will eat any food type but usually prefer high-quality foods such as meat and fresh grains. Rats also need a water source to survive since they don’t get moisture needed from their food source and will look for any standing water.
Norway rats will burrow to make their nests underneath buildings, concrete slabs, around ponds, in garbage dumps, and more. In homes, they will typically look to areas that usually go undisturbed, such as crawlspaces or basements. These creatures will cause property damage, such as gnawing through plastic materials or lead pipes. Norway rats will bring fleas and mites into the home.
House Mouse
Only ranging from 5 to 7 inches in length, the house mouse has a fur coloration ranging from light brown to black with a tan or white belly. You can usually tell the difference between a house mouse and a rat by looking at their tails; mice tails are long, rough, and have little to no fur. House mice will eat any food to survive, but they usually like to feed on cereal grains. While rats need water to survive, house mice do not, as they get most of their water from the food they eat.
If these rodents find a food source, they typically stick around that area, establishing a territory 30 to 50 feet from it. House mice are incredible climbers, allowing them to jump and reach isolated or withdrawn areas. If they get inside the home, they can be a threat as they are known to create electrical fires by gnawing on wires.
Roof Rat
Slightly smaller than a Norway rat, the roof rat measures around 13 inches in length, including the tail. These rodents are brown, black, or gray with a scaly, snaked tail which is longer than the head and body. They are excellent climbers and prefer to nest in high places within structures, including higher levels of homes, trees, and buildings. Roof rats prefer to eat fruit, vegetables, and cereal products. Roof rats eat a lot all at once and will return to that place time after time for food.
If you suspect any of these rodents inside your home, consider contacting your local Miami pest control company for a rodent control plan that will help remove, exclude, and prevent them in the future!
Jan 14, 2022 | Pest Control
As members of the rodent family, mice and rats look very similar and are often mistaken for one another. Both are harmful, transmitting serious diseases to humans and pets, contaminating surfaces in our home, and chewing through structures and wires, causing damage and putting you at risk for fires. How do you know if you are dealing with a mouse vs rat? Here are 5 key differences between these two rodents.
Physical Appearance
Mice are noticeably smaller than rats, growing 3 to 4 inches in length. Mice weigh anywhere from 0.5 oz to 3 oz. A mouse’s tail is equal in length to its body and is thin, long, and covered in hair. Mice have small heads and large ears with pointy, triangular snots and smooth fur. Mice can be white, gray, or brown in color. Rats, on the other hand, are much larger, measuring 9″ to 11″ in length and weighing anywhere from 12 oz to 1.5 lbs. A rat’s tail can be 7″ to 9″ in length and is long, thick, scaly, and hairless. Rats have small ears and large heads with blunt snouts. They have coarse fur that can be dark brown or multicolored.
Droppings
Mice have smaller droppings, about 1/4″ in length. Mice droppings are black with pointed ends and resemble a grain of rice. Mice can leave up to 100 droppings at a time. Rat droppings are larger with an elongated oval shape. These droppings are about 3/4″ long, black in color, and resemble a banana. Rats can leave up to 50 droppings at a time. Rodent droppings of both species are known to carry diseases that can be harmful to humans.
Diet
While both species are omnivores, their diets tend to vary. Mice commonly eat fruit, seeds, and plants. In your home they may nibble on bread crumbs or other cereals and grains. Their palates are not as wide as rats. Mice can also survive on 3 mL of water per day. Rats, on the other hand, will eat almost anything, even scavenging through your garbage for fruit, eggs, meat, and other leftovers. They will also eat plants and seeds. Rats need anywhere from 15 to 60 mL of water per day.
Habitat
While both rats and mice will come into your home, they tend to frequent different areas once inside. Mice can be found in garages, under trees, under decks, and in walls and other voids that are too small for other rodents to get into. The species of rat you are dealing with determines where they prefer to live. Norway rats can be found in sewers, inside walls, and in cellars. They prefer lower levels of your home to reside in. Roof rats prefer higher environments, often being found in cabinets and attics.
Behavior
Mice are nocturnal animals. They are timid but social within their own populations. They are very territorial and more curious than rats, making them easier to trap. They are skillful climbers and can access areas rats can’t because of their small size. Rats are also nocturnal but are more cautious and fearful of new things than mice are, making them more difficult to trap. Rats are also skillful climbers. Both rats and mice will gnaw through structures and wiring in your home, causing damage and putting you at risk for fire. Mice have weaker teeth and can’t chew through glass or metal to get to food. Rats have much stronger jaws and have been known to chew through wood, glass, sheet metal, aluminum, and even cinder blocks.
Regardless of which pest you are dealing with, proper identification and treatment is essential to eliminating them. Contact your local pest control company who can determine which type of pest you have and set you up with the appropriate rodent control plan to eliminate them.
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Overwintering Pests: Boxelder Bugs and Ladybugs
Dec 21, 2021 | Pest Control
Mice are incredibly resourceful as they can quickly adapt to new environments. Small in size, these pests are looking for a warm place to shelter and provide a food source. If these rodents make it indoors, they can cause significant damage to your home. Here we list the major signs of mice in your home and how you can prevent them.
Seeing holes, tears, and gnaw marks is a major sign that mice are indoors. You can typically see this damage in bedding, clothing, fabrics, and other materials. Mice will use these shredded fabrics to help build their nests, usually located in dark, secluded areas. These pests will also chew and leave gnaw marks on inedible materials such as wood, plastic, cables, and electrical wiring.
A more obvious sign of a mouse infestation is hearing noises throughout the night. Mice can fit through holes and openings smaller than their bodies. Using their ability to fit through the smallest hole, they will often use the spaces between joists to travel from one part of the house to the other. If a mouse has gotten inside the walls, you’ll often hear scratching or scrabbling noises.
Another alarming sign that a mouse is inside is seeing their feces. Mouse droppings are around three to six millimeters or ¼ inch in length. They typically resemble small grains of rice and sometimes can be mistaken for cockroach droppings. If you see mouse droppings, it’s best to carefully pick them up with gloves and place them in a sealed plastic bag to ensure they don’t release bacteria or virus particles.
To help prevent mice, place the preventative measures below throughout your house.
- Seal any cracks and holes on the exterior of your home with caulk.
- Keep your basements, crawlspaces, and attics clean, decluttered, and dry.
- Clean up any spills and crumbs immediately, vacuuming and sweeping often.
- Don’t leave food out overnight, including pet food outside.
If you notice any signs of mice inside your house, consider reaching out to your local pest control provider, where they will provide you with the best plan of action.
Dec 9, 2021 | Pest Control, Wildlife
By Anna V., Editorial Lead — Pest Education · Last updated: May 2026
The short answer: yes, a single home can have rats and mice at the same time. It happens more often than most Georgia and Alabama homeowners realize, especially in larger homes, older homes, and homes with crawl spaces, attics, and basements that give the two species enough territorial separation to coexist. At Northwest, we typically find dual-species infestations in about one of every six rodent calls we run during the late fall and winter months, which is peak rodent season in the Southeast.
Co-infestation matters because the treatment plan changes when both species are present. Mice and rats respond to different bait, different trap placements, different timing, and different exclusion strategies. A control plan designed for one will leave the other behind. Here’s how to recognize when you have both, why it happens, what the combined health risks look like, and how to handle it without the two-species problem becoming a year-long battle.
Larger Southeast homes can support both species at once, especially through the winter.
Understanding Rats and Mice as Different Species
Mice and rats are both rodents but they’re meaningfully different animals. Recognizing the differences is the foundation of effective dual-species treatment.
Mice (house mouse, deer mouse) are small, slender, and curious. Adult body length is 2 to 4 inches not counting the tail. They reproduce fast (5 to 10 litters per year per female), build small nests in wall voids and stored boxes, and explore new objects in their territory within hours.
Rats (Norway rat, roof rat) are much larger, heavier, and cautious. Adult body length is 7 to 10 inches. They reproduce more slowly than mice (2 to 5 litters per year) but produce larger litters. They build bigger nests, prefer outdoor burrows or basement-level indoor spaces, and will avoid new objects in their territory for days before approaching.
For the full physical and behavioral identification breakdown, see our companion guide on how to tell a mouse from a rat.
Signs of a Rat and Mouse Co-Infestation
The clearest evidence that both species are present is finding signs of both at the same time. Here’s what to look for.
When you see both small rice-grain droppings AND larger capsule-shaped droppings, you likely have both species.
Two Different Sizes of Droppings
The most reliable sign of dual-species infestation is finding both sizes of droppings in your home. Mouse droppings are tiny (1/8 to 1/4 inch, shaped like rice grains with pointed ends). Rat droppings are much larger (1/2 to 3/4 inch, capsule-shaped). If you’re finding both in the same week, you almost certainly have both species.
The droppings often appear in different rooms because each species typically occupies different territory in the home. Mouse droppings concentrate in pantries, cabinets, drawer backs, and along baseboards on upper floors. Rat droppings concentrate in basements, crawl spaces, garages, and near food storage on lower levels.
Gnaw Marks at Two Different Scales
Mouse gnaw marks are small and scratchy: fine tooth marks on food packaging, the corners of cardboard boxes, and the edges of wooden trim. Rat gnaw marks are dramatically larger, including chewed holes the size of a quarter or larger, gnawed-through electrical wiring, and damaged plumbing or HVAC ducts. Finding both scales of damage in the same home suggests both species are present.
Activity in Different Parts of the House
Because rats are territorial and tend to exclude mice from their immediate range, the two species often partition the home rather than share the same nesting space. Common patterns:
- Rats in the basement or crawl space, mice in the upper-floor walls and attic.
- Rats in the garage and behind the kitchen appliances, mice in the pantry and bedroom closets.
- Rats outdoors in burrows (around the foundation or under decks), with mice indoors year-round.
Sounds at Two Different Volumes
Mice produce light scurrying and scratching sounds, usually high in walls or above ceilings. Rats produce much heavier, slower sounds, often including audible thumps when they jump from surface to surface. If you’re hearing both light scratching and heavier thumping at night, you may have both species in different parts of the home.
Why Rats and Mice Sometimes Coexist
Rats normally exclude mice from their territory. Where one rat is established, mice usually move out or get killed. So how do dual-species infestations happen?
Three factors make co-infestation common in Southeast homes:
Abundant Food and Water
When food is unlimited, competition between species drops. A home with overflowing trash, accessible pet food, an unused pantry, or an unsecured garbage can outside provides enough resources that rats don’t need to actively chase off mice. Both species can sustain populations without fighting for territory.
Separated Territories Within the Home
Larger homes, multi-story homes, and homes with multiple “zones” (basement, crawl space, attic, garage, main floor) give each species its own preferred space. Rats stake out the basement or crawl space. Mice take the attic, upper walls, and pantry. The two populations rarely overlap, so the rats don’t displace the mice.
Different Entry Strategies
Mice enter through holes the size of a dime (around 1/4 inch). Rats need holes the size of a quarter (around 1/2 inch). A home can have both small and large entry points active simultaneously: rats coming in through a garage gap or compromised crawl space vent, mice slipping in through a gap around the dryer vent or a small foundation crack. Each species has its own door, so to speak.
Risks of Co-Infestation
Having both species at once compounds the typical rodent risks in three ways:
Doubled Health Risk Exposure
Mice can transmit hantavirus (especially deer mice), salmonella, and allergens that trigger asthma. Rats can transmit leptospirosis, rat-bite fever, salmonella, and pathogens carried by the fleas that often travel with them. A dual-species infestation exposes your household to the full pathogen profile of both. The CDC’s rodent disease guidance documents the specific risks for each species and recommends professional cleanup of any active rodent contamination, especially when both species are present.
Faster Property Damage Accumulation
Rats cause significant structural damage (chewed wiring, torn insulation, gnawed plumbing). Mice cause widespread food contamination and minor damage to packaging and trim. Together, they produce both types of damage simultaneously, which means repair costs accumulate faster and across more categories than single-species infestations.
More Complex Treatment
The treatment plan for mice doesn’t work as effectively against rats, and vice versa. Mouse-sized snap traps won’t catch a Norway rat. Rat-sized snap traps placed for rat trails will be ignored by mice on completely different routes. Bait stations sized for one species often go untouched by the other. Treating both species at once requires planning trap and bait placement for two different size profiles, two different behavior patterns (mice are curious, rats are cautious), and two different territory maps.
Natural and Preventive Measures
The good news: the prevention measures that work for either species work for both. Co-infestation prevention is the same as single-species prevention, just applied more thoroughly.
Seal Entry Points (at Two Different Sizes)
- Walk the foundation and look for any opening larger than 1/4 inch. Mice can squeeze through anything bigger.
- Seal small gaps with steel wool and caulk. Steel wool is the only material rodents can’t gnaw through.
- Look for larger openings the size of a quarter or bigger. Garage door gaps, compromised crawl space vents, unsealed utility line penetrations, and damaged soffits are common rat-sized entry points.
- Install door sweeps and weatherstripping. Worn weatherstripping on garage side doors and basement hatches is a leading cause of rodent entry in older Southeast homes.
- Screen every crawl space vent with galvanized 1/4-inch hardware cloth.
Cut Off Food and Water
- Store all food (including pet food) in airtight glass or hard plastic containers, not bags.
- Take out trash daily during warm months and use lidded cans both indoors and outdoors.
- Fix slow drips and leaky pipes. Both species need water and seek it out.
- Don’t leave standing water in pet bowls overnight in active rodent areas.
Reduce Harborage
- Cut clutter in basements, attics, garages, and stored areas. Both species nest in undisturbed clutter.
- Move cardboard storage to plastic bins. Mice and rats both gnaw through cardboard easily.
- Trim outdoor vegetation back from foundations and rooflines. Rats use vegetation as cover; mice travel along it.
- Store firewood at least 20 feet from the house on raised racks.
Outdoor Yard Maintenance
- Keep grass short along the foundation.
- Remove fallen fruit under pecan, fig, or persimmon trees promptly.
- Don’t leave pet food bowls outside overnight.
- Block burrow entrances under decks and sheds with hardware cloth.
Dual-species infestations need traps and bait stations sized for both rat and mouse activity in different parts of the home.
When to Call a Professional for Dual-Species Rodent Control
Dual-species infestations are one of the situations we strongly recommend professional treatment for. The reason isn’t the rodents themselves (DIY can handle individual species), it’s the complexity of treating two species simultaneously without one undermining the treatment for the other.
Call Northwest for professional dual-species rodent control if:
- You’ve found droppings of two different sizes in the same week.
- You’ve heard both light scratching and heavier thumps in different parts of the house.
- Sightings or signs have appeared in both upper and lower levels of the home.
- DIY traps caught some rodents but the activity hasn’t stopped.
- You’re seeing rodents during daylight hours, which usually indicates a large hidden population.
- You’ve found gnaw marks at both small and large scales.
Northwest’s rodent control approach for co-infestations uses integrated pest management (IPM): identifying species and territory, setting appropriately-sized traps and bait stations for each species, sealing entry points at both 1/4-inch and 1/2-inch+ scales, and following up to confirm both populations have cleared before closing out the treatment.
(Suspect both rats and mice are present? Request a free Northwest rodent inspection and we’ll identify both species, map their territories, and lay out the dual-species treatment plan.)
What Happens If You Treat Only One Species
This is the most common mistake we see in homes that have tried DIY rodent control before calling us. A homeowner spots a few small droppings, identifies mice, sets mouse-sized snap traps in the pantry, catches three or four mice, and concludes the problem is solved. Two weeks later they’re hearing thumps in the basement at night and finding much larger droppings near the water heater.
That happens because rats and mice often coexist quietly in different parts of the home. Treating only the mice leaves the rat population fully intact. Within a few months, the rat population grows large enough to become noticeable on its own, and what felt like a successful single-species treatment turns into a much bigger second problem.
Effective rodent control assumes co-infestation is possible and treats accordingly: traps and bait stations sized for both species, placed throughout the entire structure, with follow-up to confirm both populations have cleared.
Rodent Control Drives Other Pest Outcomes
One last point worth knowing. Rodent populations don’t sit in isolation. They drive other pest outcomes in your home:
- Fleas and mites ride in on rodents and establish indoor populations of their own.
- Snakes follow rodent populations as a food source. The single most common reason snake sightings spike in a Southeast yard is an unaddressed rodent problem in or under the house. See our snake repellent guide for more on the rodent-snake connection.
- Stored product pests (pantry moths, weevils, beetles) thrive in the contaminated food residues rodents leave behind.
Solving a dual-species rodent infestation often clears two or three secondary pest issues at the same time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rats and Mice
Can rats and mice live in the same area at the same time?
Yes. When food, water, and shelter are abundant and the two species can occupy separated territories within the home (rats in basements or crawl spaces, mice in walls or attics), they can coexist. About one of every six rodent calls we run involves both species in the same home.
How do I know if I have rats or mice or both?
The clearest sign is finding droppings of two different sizes. Mouse droppings are tiny (1/8 to 1/4 inch) and rice-shaped. Rat droppings are larger (1/2 to 3/4 inch) and capsule-shaped. Two different scales of gnaw marks, two different sound patterns (light scratching plus heavier thumps), and activity in different parts of the house also indicate co-infestation.
Are rats more dangerous than mice?
Rats cause more structural damage and carry a broader range of diseases than mice. Both species warrant treatment, but rat problems should be addressed faster. When both species are present, the combined health-risk and damage profile is more serious than either alone.
How quickly can rodents multiply?
Mice reproduce very fast: 5 to 10 litters per year per female, with each litter containing 5 to 8 pups. A single pair can become dozens within a few months. Rats reproduce more slowly (2 to 5 litters per year) but produce larger litters of 8 to 12 pups each. In a dual-species infestation, the mouse population usually grows faster than the rat population.
What’s the best way to remove rats and mice from a home?
Effective dual-species removal combines exclusion (sealing entry points at both 1/4-inch and 1/2-inch+ scales), sanitation (removing food and water access), and species-appropriate trapping and baiting. Professional integrated pest management is the most reliable approach when both species are confirmed present, because the treatment plan needs to address two different size profiles, behavior patterns, and territory maps simultaneously.
A dual-species inspection looks for entry points at two different sizes in two different parts of the home.
Schedule a Rodent Inspection
If you suspect both rats and mice are in your home, or you just want a professional confirmation of which species you’re dealing with, the smartest move is an inspection before the populations grow further. Dual-species infestations are very treatable when caught early, and Northwest’s team has been clearing rodent problems out of Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and South Carolina homes for decades.
About the Author
Anna Vaccaro, Editorial Lead — Pest Education leads pest education content for Northwest Exterminating, working with senior technicians and service center managers across our Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and South Carolina service areas to translate field expertise into homeowner-friendly guides. The focus: accurate, regionally-specific answers to the pest questions Southeast homeowners are actually searching for.
