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Rodent identification guide
Rat vs Mouse: How to Tell Which One Is in Your Atlanta Home
Droppings are the quickest clue: UGA Extension describes mouse droppings as about the size of rice grains and rat droppings as about the size of raisins. Three species live with people in Georgia (the house mouse, Norway rat and roof rat), and the right fix depends on which one you have.
Last reviewed October 7, 2026. Sources are listed at the end of the page.
Quick comparison
Rat or mouse? Start with droppings and size
Three rodents live alongside people in Georgia: the house mouse, the Norway rat and the roof rat, according to UGA Extension. The first table separates mice from rats; the second separates the two kinds of rat.
| Clue | Mouse | Rat |
|---|---|---|
| Droppings | About the size of rice grains | About the size of raisins |
| Body size | House mice are about 3 in. long, not counting the tail, and have a naked tail | Norway rats can weigh more than 1 lb; roof rats weigh about 5 to 10 oz |
| Smell | A musty, urine-like odor often points to mice | Less likely to be the source of that odor |
| Feature | Norway rat | Roof rat |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Can weigh more than 1 lb | About 5 to 10 oz |
| Ears | Do not reach past the eyes | Extend past the eyes |
| Fur | Usually brown or reddish gray | Brown or black |
| Habits | May spend its whole life in an area only 100 to 150 ft across | A good climber |
Young and adult animals differ in size, so treat droppings as a clue rather than proof. Use at least two clues before you decide.
Other signs that help narrow it down
- Gnaw marks. A small hole with chewed edges shows rodents are living in or entering the building.
- Sounds. Gnawing or scratching in walls or the attic.
- Smell. A musty, urine-like odor points more toward mice than rats.
- Nesting material. Nests of chewed paper or cloth turn up in boxes, drawers, toolboxes, basements and attics.
Photograph the evidence
Take a clear photo of the droppings next to a coin for scale, note where you found them, and write down when you hear noises. Those details help whoever inspects the property tell a mouse problem from a rat problem and find the likely entry points.
Why the species matters, and how to clean up safely
The right fix depends on the species and on how the animal is getting in. UGA Extension says mice and rats can enter through openings as small as a dime. It also says rodents spoil food, carry fleas and ticks, and can transmit diseases, naming plague and hantavirus. CDC says avoiding exposure to rodents and their urine and feces is the best way to prevent hantavirus infection.
Clean up droppings safely (CDC guidance)
- Open all doors and windows for 30 minutes before cleaning, and leave the area during that time.
- Put on rubber or plastic gloves.
- Spray the urine and droppings with a bleach solution or an EPA-registered disinfectant until very wet, and let it soak for 5 minutes or as the label directs.
- Wipe up with paper towels and throw them in a covered garbage can that is emptied regularly.
Do not sweep or vacuum rodent droppings, urine or nesting material. CDC warns that this can send tiny droplets containing viruses into the air.
What to do yourself, and when to call
What UGA Extension recommends at home
- Make sanitation the priority. UGA calls it the best method of control: store food in sealed containers and clean up crumbs and spills.
- Close entry holes. UGA calls this one of the most effective ways to keep mice and rats out.
- Inside the house, use traps rather than poison baits. UGA says poisons are more dangerous to children and pets, and advises using them only outdoors where children and pets cannot reach them.
Call a professional when
- You hear or see activity in an attic, ceiling or wall you cannot reach.
- Droppings or gnaw marks keep returning after you trap and clean up.
- You cannot find how the animal is getting in.
- Evidence shows up in several rooms, or both inside and outside.
- You are not sure whether you have a rat or a mouse.
How Pest Control Atlanta helps
We inspect the property to identify the rodent and find how it is getting in, then work on removal and on closing those entry points. Our service carries a “Satisfaction Guaranteed — Free Re-Treatment If Pests Return” guarantee. Start with the service page that matches what you found:
Prefer to read more first? See How to Get Rid of Rats: Complete Guide to Long-Term Rat Control.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Can I tell a rat from a mouse by droppings alone?
Droppings are the quickest clue. UGA Extension describes mouse droppings as about the size of rice grains and rat droppings as about the size of raisins. Treat that as a starting point and pair it with gnaw marks, sounds, smell and what you actually see, because one clue by itself can mislead.
Do rats or mice live in attics?
Either can. UGA Extension notes that rodent nests of chewed paper or cloth turn up in basements and attics, and that roof rats are good climbers. Droppings size and the entry points you find narrow it down, and an inspection settles it.
How small a gap can a mouse or rat use?
UGA Extension says mice and rats can enter through openings as small as a dime, which is why closing entry holes is one of the most effective ways to keep them out.
Should I use poison indoors?
UGA Extension advises using traps, not poison baits, inside houses, because poisons are more dangerous to children and pets. It says poison should be used outdoors only if you can keep it away from children and pets.
Is it safe to sweep up rodent droppings?
No. CDC says not to vacuum or sweep rodent urine, droppings or nesting material because it can put tiny droplets containing viruses into the air. Ventilate, wear gloves, wet the droppings with disinfectant and wipe them up with paper towels.
What should I do first if I find droppings?
Do not sweep them. Photograph them with a coin for scale, clean them up using the CDC steps above, look for gaps and holes where the animal could be getting in, and call if the activity is in a wall or attic or comes back.
Where this information comes from
Sources
Facts about identification, biology and safety come from the sources below, retrieved on October 7, 2026. Publication or review dates are given where the source shows one.
- Rats and Mice: Get Them Out of Your House and Yard (Bulletin C970), UGA Extension — published with minor revisions November 5, 2025
- How to Clean Up After Rodents, CDC — last reviewed April 8, 2024
- Hantavirus Prevention, CDC — last reviewed May 13, 2024
More identification guides
Browse the full Atlanta Pest Library, or read another identification guide:
Found rodent evidence at home?
Call Pest Control Atlanta to talk through what you found. We can inspect to identify the rodent and where it is getting in.
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