Silver Bullet Pest ControlMice vs. Rats: How to Tell the Difference and Why It Matters
Straight answers from Silver Bullet Pest Control, a licensed exterminator based in Garfield, NJ, serving Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties. Call or text 973-510-2585. Hablamos español.
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Quick answer: size, ears, tail and droppings
Mice are small (about 3 to 4 inches without the tail) with big ears, thin tails and droppings the size of a grain of rice. Rats are much bigger (7 to 9 inches without the tail) with smaller ears, thick tails and droppings up to about 3/4 inch, shaped like a capsule. Mice are curious and walk into traps fast; rats avoid new things, so they need a different plan. If you're not sure, text a photo of the droppings to 973-510-2585.
Side by side
| House mouse | Norway rat | |
|---|---|---|
| Body length | About 3 to 4 inches | About 7 to 9 inches |
| Tail | Thin, about as long as the body | Thick and scaly, a bit shorter than the body |
| Ears and head | Big ears, pointed nose | Small ears, blunt nose |
| Droppings | Rice-size, pointed ends, scattered | Up to about 3/4 inch, capsule-shaped, in groups |
| Where in NJ homes | Kitchens, cabinets, walls, attics | Basements, garages, yards, burrows by the foundation |
| Gap it fits through | About the width of a pencil | About the size of a quarter |
| Behavior | Curious, explores new things | Cautious, avoids new things |
Why it matters for treatment
Mice usually find a trap the first night, so a few well-placed traps along their routes work fast. Rats can ignore a new trap for days and remember a near miss, so they need patience: pre-baiting, careful placement and bait stations outside. Rats also burrow, so their entry points are often low on the foundation, while mice come in anywhere, including the roofline.
What we see on these jobs
The three situations behind most of these calls in North Jersey:
Mouse Treatment Inside the Home
- Small droppings in drawers and cabinets
- Chewed food packaging
- Scratching in walls at night
Our One-Time Mouse Service is 100% guaranteed, and mice and rodent service includes 90 days of coverage with unlimited free service calls in that time.
Rats Around the House
- Bigger, capsule-shaped droppings
- Burrows along the foundation
- Gnawing on wood, plastic or wires
Rats are wary and harder to trap than mice. The lasting fix is finding the burrows and gaps they use and closing them.
Sealing the Way In
- Gaps around pipes and gas lines
- Garage door seals
- Foundation cracks and vents
Trapping handles the rodents inside. Sealing the gaps with steel and the right materials is what stops the next ones.
Sounds and signs
- Mice: light scratching and scurrying in walls and ceilings at night, chewed food boxes, nests of shredded paper in drawers
- Rats: heavier noises, burrows in the yard, gnawing on wood or plastic, greasy rub marks along walls, droppings in groups
Health risks
Both contaminate food and surfaces with droppings and urine and can spread disease. Don't sweep or vacuum dry droppings: air out the room, wear gloves, spray with disinfectant, wait five minutes and wipe them up with paper towels.
Still not sure?
Text a photo of the droppings next to a coin to 973-510-2585. See rodent control and mice and rat questions.
Simple ways to prevent it
Seal small gaps
Close gaps around pipes, cables and vents with steel wool plus sealant or metal mesh. Foam alone gets chewed through.
Fix door sweeps
Garage and basement doors need tight bottom seals. A gap you can slide a pencil under lets mice in.
Store food sealed
Keep cereal, rice, pet food and birdseed in glass, metal or hard plastic.
Clear the perimeter
Keep firewood, leaf piles and dense shrubs away from the foundation.
How Silver Bullet handles it
Call or text a photo
Tell us what you're seeing and where. A photo often lets us identify the pest right away. We answer 24/7 for emergencies.
Inspection
A licensed tech finds the source: where the pest lives, how it gets in and what draws it.
Treatment or removal
We use the right method for the pest, placed where it works and kept away from kids and pets.
Seal and prevent
We close entry points and tell you what to change so the problem doesn't come back.
Related services
Get Help From a Licensed Exterminator
Call or text 973-510-2585 for the fastest answer, or tell us what's going on and we'll get back to you quickly.
Calls we get every week
- Mice in the kitchen or pantry
- Scratching in the walls or ceiling at night
- Rats burrowing in the yard or under a deck
- Droppings in the garage or basement
- Rodents in an apartment building or restaurant
Request Service
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Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell if I have mice or rats?
Look at the droppings: rice-size means mice, capsule-shaped up to about 3/4 inch means rats. Size of the animal and where you see it help too.
Are rats more dangerous than mice?
Both spread germs. Rats are bigger, chew harder materials and are harder to trap.
Can mice and rats live in the same house?
It happens, but rats often keep mice away from their area.
How long does it take to get rid of mice?
Most homes see activity drop within a couple of weeks once traps are in place and entry points are sealed. Rodent service includes 90 days of coverage.
Is rodent service safe for kids and pets?
Yes. Traps and bait stations are placed where kids and pets can't reach them.
Do you seal the entry points?
Yes. Sealing gaps with steel and the right materials is how we keep rodents from coming back.
What if I keep seeing mice after treatment?
Mice and rodent service includes 90 days of coverage with unlimited free service calls, so we come back.
Do you treat apartment buildings and restaurants?
Yes. We handle rodents in multi-family buildings and food businesses and can set up ongoing service.
How do I clean up droppings safely?
Air out the room, wear gloves, spray with disinfectant, wait five minutes, wipe with paper towels and bag them. Never sweep or vacuum dry droppings.
Do mice come back every fall?
Often, yes. As it gets cold, mice look for warm shelter, so fall is the busiest time. Sealing gaps before then helps a lot.
Is a young rat the same as a mouse?
No. A young rat has a bigger head and feet for its body than a mouse.
Serving North Jersey
Based in Garfield, we serve these towns and the rest of Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties.
Our service area
Bergen County
973-510-2585- Allendale
- Bergenfield
- Bogota
- Carlstadt
- Cliffside Park
- Closter
- Cresskill
- Demarest
- Dumont
- East Rutherford
- Edgewater
- Elmwood Park
- Emerson
- Englewood
- Englewood Cliffs
- Fair Lawn
- Fairview
- Fort Lee
- Franklin Lakes
- Garfield
- Glen Rock
- Hackensack
- Harrington Park
- Hasbrouck Heights
- Haworth
- Hillsdale
- Ho-Ho-Kus
- Leonia
- Little Ferry
- Lodi
- Lyndhurst
- Mahwah
- Maywood
- Midland Park
- Montvale
- Moonachie
- New Milford
- North Arlington
- Northvale
- Norwood
- Oakland
- Old Tappan
- Oradell
- Palisades Park
- Paramus
- Park Ridge
- Ramsey
- Ridgefield
- Ridgefield Park
- Ridgewood
- River Edge
- River Vale
- Rochelle Park
- Rutherford
- Saddle Brook
- Saddle River
- South Hackensack
- Teaneck
- Tenafly
- Teterboro
- Upper Saddle River
- Waldwick
- Wallington
- Washington Township
- Westwood
- Woodcliff Lake
- Wood-Ridge
- Wyckoff
Passaic County
973-510-2585- Bloomingdale
- Clifton
- Haledon
- Hawthorne
- Little Falls
- North Haledon
- Passaic
- Paterson
- Pompton Lakes
- Prospect Park
- Ringwood
- Totowa
- Wanaque
- Wayne
- West Milford
- Woodland Park
Essex County
973-510-2585- Belleville
- Bloomfield
- Caldwell
- Cedar Grove
- East Orange
- Essex Fells
- Fairfield
- Glen Ridge
- Irvington
- Livingston
- Maplewood
- Millburn
- Montclair
- Newark
- North Caldwell
- Nutley
- Orange
- Roseland
- Short Hills
- South Orange
- Verona
- West Caldwell
- West Orange
Hudson County
973-510-2585Union County
973-510-2585- Berkeley Heights
- Clark
- Cranford
- Elizabeth
- Fanwood
- Garwood
- Hillside
- Kenilworth
- Linden
- Mountainside
- New Providence
- Plainfield
- Rahway
- Roselle
- Roselle Park
- Scotch Plains
- Springfield
- Summit
- Union
- Westfield
Morris County
973-510-2585- Boonton
- Butler
- Cedar Knolls
- Chatham
- Denville
- Dover
- East Hanover
- Florham Park
- Hanover
- Kinnelon
- Lincoln Park
- Madison
- Mendham
- Montville
- Morris Plains
- Morristown
- Mountain Lakes
- Parsippany
- Pequannock
- Randolph
- Riverdale
- Rockaway
- Roxbury
- Whippany
Updated November 2026 by the Silver Bullet Pest Control team, Garfield, NJ • NJ License 90568B