Finding droppings in and around your house can be scary, especially if you don’t know where they came from. Rats and squirrels are both common pests that can move into homes and leave behind their waste. It’s important to know the difference between squirrel droppings and rat droppings so you can figure out who did it and what to do about it. In this guide, we’ll look at the main differences between these two types of droppings.
Size and shape:
Size and shape are two of the first things to look at when trying to tell the difference between squirrel and rat droppings. Most of the time, squirrel droppings are smaller and rounder. They look like small pellets and are usually between 1/4 and 1/2 inch long. On the other hand, rat poop is bigger and longer, and it looks like a package. They may be between 1/2 and 3/4 of an inch long.
Texture and colour:
Squirrel droppings tend to be smoother and the same colour all the way through. They are usually brown or dark brown, and when they are new, they may look shiny. Rat droppings, on the other hand, feel rougher because they are made up of smaller pieces. They can be anything from dark brown to black, based on what the rat eats.
Location and Grouping:
Squirrels are more likely to leave their droppings in a number of different places. You might see small piles of squirrel poop near places where they eat, nest, or get in. Rat droppings, on the other hand, are often found in groups. Rats usually leave their waste in the same places along their normal paths, like near walls, corners, and baseboards.
Squirrel droppings are usually found outside near trees, bird boxes, and attics, which are places where squirrels like to hang out. People often find these droppings in fields or on the ground. On the other hand, rat poop can be found both inside and outside. Rats are more likely to be the cause of droppings in your kitchen, pantry, or storage places.
Quantity and frequency:
On average, squirrels leave behind more droppings than rats do. This is because they eat all the time while looking for nuts, seeds, and other things. Because of this, you might find a lot more squirrel droppings near and near their nests. Most of the time, there are fewer rat droppings, but they are more carefully put along their paths.
Nesting:
Squirrels usually make their homes out of things like leaves, twigs, and other trash. If you find droppings near breeding materials, you can be sure that squirrels live there. Rats, on the other hand, don’t usually mix their waste with things they use to build their nests.
To sum up, you can tell the difference between squirrel droppings and rat droppings by looking at their size, shape, texture, colour, location, and how the animals nest. If you’re still not sure what kind of pest you’re dealing with, it’s best to ask for help from a professional in pest control. They can find the pest and give effective ways to get rid of it and keep it from coming back.
Remember that finding and getting rid of pests quickly is the best way to stop them from spreading and reduce health risks. By knowing the difference between squirrel droppings and rat droppings, you can take the right steps to fix the problem and keep pests out of your home.
Rat Control Oshawa, our technicians have the knowledge as well as years of experience in handling rat problems. Whether it is an infestation or an intrusion, our licensed and fully insured teams of technicians handle the problem swiftly and discreetly.