How to Tell If I Have a Rat or a Squirrel in the House
Many homeowners mistakenly believe that rats and squirrels are the same. However, these two types of rodents are related to each other in the order Rodentia, which also includes beavers and muskrats. Because of their constant need to gnaw on hard materials, their incisors grow during their lifetimes. Rats and squirrels also share a similar body structure, diet, and head shape.
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Identifying a squirrel
While identifying a rat or squirrel in your house is not always easy, it’s possible to distinguish the two based on their appearance and habits. Squirrels, for instance, have four toes on their front feet, while rats have five. Squirrels also bounded with their back feet parallel to their front feet when leaping, while rats moved in straight lines. In order to tell a rat or squirrel from a squirrel, you can look for traces of grease on their fur or tracks on their fur.
If you have discovered fresh feces, the scent of squirrel feces will be more obvious. Rat feces will be odorless and unscented, and squirrel poop will be dry and brownish-red. These odors will tell you that a rat or squirrel is in your house if you find their droppings in certain places. If you notice a lot of poop on your floor, you should seek professional help.
Identifying a rat
If you’re experiencing scratching noises in your home, it’s most likely that you’re dealing with a rat or squirrel. To tell which pest you’re dealing with, you’ll first need to identify the species. If the noises are from a squirrel, note the time when they occurred. The reason this is important is because rats and squirrels can change their behavior according to their surroundings.
First, a healthy squirrel has a bushy tail that is similar in color to the body. When it stands or crouchs, its tail reaches a point and “flops” over about 1/3 of the way up. Identifying a squirrel or rat in the house is simple if you know what to look for. Rats and squirrels have similar body shapes and diets, but there are a few differences.
Identifying a raccoon
If you’ve noticed that there’s an animal in your attic or walls, you may want to start by identifying the animal. Raccoons are nocturnal animals, so you’ll likely notice the sounds of the animals around dusk or dawn, or the sound of them walking across your roof. While raccoons are usually nocturnal, they can come out of hiding during the day and make noises that are not unusual for their species.
Raccoons are stocky mammals with black masks over their eyes. They live in many parts of the United States, from southern New England to eastern Canada, but are most common in wooded areas. Though they’re mostly found in North America, raccoons have recently begun to appear in parts of Europe and Japan, where they can pose a significant threat to property and pets.
Identifying a rat infestation
Identifying a rat infestation in your house is crucial to eliminating this pest. In addition to leaving behind a trail of destruction, rats can carry disease and spread it throughout your home. In addition to eating food, rats may also damage electrical wiring and increase the risk of fire. They can also be difficult to detect, because they usually live behind walls. Here are some tips to detect rat activity.
You may notice droppings or a rat colony near food. This is the result of rats’ gnawing habits. Rats excrete droppings in almost any place, including chimneys, attics, and under eaves. Detecting rat activity in these areas is important for eradicating a rat infestation. If you see any of these signs, you may be dealing with a Norway rat.
Identifying a squirrel’s droppings
Oftentimes, people can be confused by the appearance of the squirrel’s droppings, and they immediately start to worry about the rodents they live with. Rats, on the other hand, have very dark droppings. But the difference between these two animal wastes is only in the color. Squirrel feces are pale brown, while rat stools tend to be a darker brown.
Squirrel feces are roughly the size of a staple and are approximately 5-8 mm long. They have a pointed end and a bulge at the center. The color of the droppings can range from light brown to black, and they are generally round in shape. They also defecate in a dedicated area, so you might find clusters of them near a feeding area.
Identifying a rat’s tail
To distinguish between a rat and a mouse, look at their tails. If the tail is bushy or fluffy, the animal is likely a squirrel. If the tail is short and hairless, the animal is probably a rat. Rats and mice have thin, short tails, and their bodies are similar in size. They usually run with their tails dangling, and their toenails are brown or black.
If you’re unsure whether you’re dealing with a rat or a squirrel, the toenails of each are different. Rats have recessed eyes, while the eyes of a newborn squirrel are pronounced and bulgy. Squirrels’ heads are larger than those of rats. Rats’ heads are narrower and rounder.
Jessica Watson is a PHD holder from the University of Washington. She studied behavior and interaction between squirrels and has presented her research in several wildlife conferences including TWS Annual Conference in Winnipeg.
