Whether you have already encountered rats in your home, or anticipate finding a few in your attic during these winter months, it is always a good idea to increase your knowledge base and learn more about them. Since rats and mice are often confused for one another, it is easy to assume that they are all one and the same. But in fact, these creatures have many factors that set them apart. If you are looking into NJ rat removal, you need to first make sure that you are in fact dealing with rats and not mice. SIZE – One of the biggest distinguishing factors between rats and mice is their size. A fully grown rat will tend to be about 8 inches with a slightly longer tail – around 9 inches long. They will usually weigh about one pound. On the other-hand, mice are much smaller. They will rarely exceed 3 inches in body length, and 3 inches in tail length. Due to their difference in size, rats eat more than mice and have larger feces. Relative to the rest of the body, a rat's eats are small, whereas a mouse's ears are large. Despite these difference, their life spans do not differ too greatly. A mouse will live 1.5-2.5 years on average, whereas a rat will live for 2-3 years. Not a major difference there. COLOR – When you are trying to perform an NJ rat removal, it also helps to identify a rat or mouse based on its coloring. Rats are usually gray with white fur on their stomachs, and tend to get increasingly browner as they age. Mice start out with brown fur and have dark bellies. A rat's tail is black with rings, and a mouse's tail is more tan and smooth. BEHAVIOR – Mice and rats behave similarly, but rats are more careful whereas mice are more bold. A mouse will be more likely to leave his hiding spot to explore the surrounding area and end up stuck inside a trap. NJ rat removal is more complicated because rats are smarter and less likely to step out of their hiding spots. But if you do encounter a mouse or rat, you can tell the difference based on how they react. A rat will be more aggressive, and try to attack, but a mouse will usually get scared and back away. Some other differences to look out for include the length and depth of their hiding spots, head shape, nipple count, rubmarks, eating habits, gnaw marks, and more. One last thing to keep in mind is the issue of muricide. If you are wondering whether you need mouse or rat removal in NJ, consider this: if rats and mice coexist, it is not for long. Rats will eventually attack the mice or dominate the food source making it impossible for mice to continue living. If you check all the signs and determine that you have mice in your home, chances are there are no rats accompanying them.
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