Rats and mice have a bad reputation and are often associated with dirt and disease. Places like sewers and drains, as well as rubbish tips and areas of wasteland can be attractive to rats and mice, and they can cause some problems in the home too, often to walls and pipes.
If you think you have damage to your drain pipes, you should call in a specialist like this CCTV drain surveys company https://www.drainpower.co.uk/drainage-services/cctv-drain-surveys/ to come and take a look.
Rats and mice will often be found near to where humans are because we provide them with the things that they like. From food waste, to cosy places to build a nest, they are just doing what comes naturally to them.
There are actually many species of rodent in the UK, so if you have seen one, it is a good idea to learn how to differentiate between them. Many people think that they have seen a rat when it is in fact something else. Here are some of the rodents that you may see or mistake for a rat…
Brown Rat – These are larger rodents, and can be as long as 30cm, although not all are that large. They can often be seen in urban areas, near watercourses, homes or of course around anywhere where there is rubbish.
Because they are omnivores, they eat anything – they are not fussy! Brown rats have a long tail and a pointed nose.
House Mice – These little mice are brown grey in colour and tend to be found around human dwellings – so if you have a mouse in the house, this is what it is likely to be. It is a grey, brown colour and like a rat has a pointed nose and long bare tail but is much smaller.
It can often be found in farm buildings and warehouses and enjoys grains and seeds, which is what makes a farm environment appealing to them!
Harvest Mice – These tiny mice are no larger than 7 cm and they tend to live in grasslands and fields and in hedgerows. They weave circular grass nests which you may come across in tall grassy areas. It has light ginger coloured fur with a white stomach.
Wood Mice – Similar to a house mouse but with larger eyes and ears in comparison to the rest of the body. It is commonly found in woodlands as the name suggests but may also live in grassy areas such as gardens. It is a gold brown colour and is paler underneath, and often feasts on seed, nuts and berries.