If you’ve spotted small droppings in your home, you may be wondering how to tell if it's rat poop vs. mouse poop . Identifying the type of rodent droppings is a critical first step in addressing an infestation and avoiding health risks.

Both rats and mice are common pests, but their droppings have distinct characteristics that can help you determine which rodent is the culprit.

Appearance and Size

Rat droppings are typically larger, about 1/2 to 3/4 inch (1 to 2 cm) long, with blunt or rounded ends. They’re dark brown and often found near food sources, crawl spaces, or rat nests.

Norway rats and roof rats leave behind slightly different shapes, but both are noticeably larger than mouse droppings.

Mouse poop is much smaller, about 1/8 to 1/4 inch (0.5 cm) long, and has pointed ends.

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