Rats vs. Mice: What Plano Homeowners Need to Know

Rodents are common in North Texas neighborhoods like Plano—especially near greenbelts, creeks, parks, construction areas, and established subdivisions. Identifying whether you’re dealing with rats or mice is critical for proper control and preventing costly damage.

Behaviors Rats & Mice Share

• Mostly nocturnal: Rodents are primarily active at night. Daytime activity may signal overcrowding or limited food.
• Constant gnawing: Their teeth never stop growing, leading them to chew wood, insulation, wiring, pipes, and plastic—creating fire and water damage risks.
• Established runways: Rodents repeatedly use the same paths between food, water, and nesting areas, leaving smooth or dark smudges along walls.
• Scent marking: Urine marks territory and travel routes and will glow blue-white under UV (black) light.

• Curious by nature: Mice readily investigate new objects, including traps and bait.
• Quick, quiet movement: Often seen scurrying along walls, baseboards, and cabinets.
• Nearby nesting: Mice build small nests close to food sources—inside walls, attics, garages, and storage boxes.

• Highly cautious: Rats are wary of new objects (neophobia). Traps often need time before being activated.
• Social animals: Rats live in colonies and rely heavily on scent trails.
• Excellent climbers:
  • Roof rats access homes using trees, fences, power lines, and rooflines.
  • They commonly nest in attics, wall voids, and upper levels of homes.
• Strong swimmers: Rats can enter through drainage and sewer systems, especially near creeks and stormwater areas found throughout Plano.

• Droppings:
  • Mice: Small, rice-sized
  • Rats: Larger, capsule-shaped
    Fresh droppings are dark and shiny; older ones appear dull or gray.
• Gnaw marks: On food packaging, wood, wiring, or plastic.
• Rub marks: Dark, greasy smudges along baseboards and walls from oily fur.
• Runways: Smooth, worn paths along walls or behind stored items.
• Footprints: Tiny tracks in dust or soil; rats may leave a visible tail drag.

• New construction and redevelopment displace rodents
• Cooler weather pushes rodents indoors
• Accessible food sources like pet food, bird seed, and unsecured trash
• Entry points around rooflines, garages, and foundations

• Sealing entry points
• Reducing food and water sources
• Strategic trapping and monitoring
• Ongoing prevention to manage seasonal rodent pressure

How Home Run Pest & Termite Control Helps
At Home Run Pest & Termite Control, we provide professional rodent control solutions designed specifically for North Texas homes.

• Thorough rodent inspections
• Targeted trapping and monitoring
• Entry-point identification and exclusion guidance
• Safe, effective solutions for families and pets
• Ongoing prevention—not just short-term fixes

We focus on honesty, education, and long-term results—because rodent problems don’t fix themselves.

Schedule Your Rodent Inspection
Call: 972-800-6354
Visit: https://homerunpest.com
 

Home Run Pest & Termite Control
We knock pests out of the park.