When you notice animal droppings in your home, your first thought is that you have mice or rats in your home. However, that’s not always the case as many other types of animals pests love to make your home theirs when given half the chance, such as squirrels. Apart from chewing wires and insulation, they build nests, chew through your siding, and gnaw on your woodwork; droppings from squirrels and rats also pose a health hazard. A pest invasion is never good for your home or your health.
As their droppings dry, they crumble into dust, and that dust circulates in the air in your home. Sometimes, their droppings contain pathogens such as leptospirosis and salmonellosis. In this post, we’ll discuss the differences between squirrel and rat poop so you can better identify droppings in the future.
Color
While rat and squirrel droppings look very similar at a casual glance, they each have different colors and textures. Rat droppings are almost black, while squirrel feces are paler due to their diets. While squirrel droppings are dark brown at first, they become lighter with time, while rat droppings don’t become lighter over time and remain
dark.
Location
You can find squirrel droppings in high places, such as attics and crawlspaces, while rats leave droppings in attics, basements, or other areas in your home. To which homeowners can attest, rats don’t have a specific spot where they leave droppings. When it comes to
squirrels, they’re more discreet and prefer to leave their droppings in places where they find comfort and in areas where they come in go.
Shape
The shape of the feces is another indication of which pest is in your home. Rat feces are smooth and oblong with pointed ends, but squirrel feces are rounded at the end, stay level on the surface, and shaped like a barrel. Rat droppings have a thicker middle, while squirrel droppings are softer.
Size
Squirrels have larger droppings than both rats and mice. Rat droppings are about 1/4th of an inch thick and anywhere between ½” and ¾” inches long, while squirrel droppings are 1/8″ in diameter and are anywhere between 3/8″ to an inch long.
While you’re more likely to encounter rat droppings more often than squirrel droppings, take care of pest invasions as soon as possible. Synergy² is here for you when you need us the most, and we offer solutions for squirrels, bed bugs, rats, bees, and more in the
Madison, Mississippi, area. With our experience as a family-owned and operated pest and wildlife control company, we guarantee your satisfaction with our customizable services.
Contact us today for a quote and schedule an appointment to remove your unwanted guests.
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