Mouse or Rat??

Comment_below

Hi all,

I was sent a picture of the below rodent to see if it was a rat or a mouse? And why?

The peron who took it found it in a 1st floor balcony area of an apartment.

Thanks in advance

lucalux

That's 100% a rat

Comment_below

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117995090#Comment_117995090

A brown rat?

Is a rats tail supposed to be shorter than length of head + body?

A mature mouse can be distinguished from a young rat by its larger ears and longer tail compared to its body length than the rat.

Jim_Hodge

It's a mouse. The tail is too long and too thin for a rat. The head is also too small.

Comment_below

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117995416#Comment_117995416

I was thinking that to, however is it not a bit big for a mouse?

I've been looking on Rentokil Mouse Vs Rat, and still not sure

https://www.rentokil.ie/mice/rats-vs-mice/

saabsaab

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117995457#Comment_117995457

Pretty sure an adult mouse. Large ears, smaller feet longer tail in proportion to a young rat.

Comment_below

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117995676#Comment_117995676

Good point

But as it was found on a 1st floor apartment, I thought mice were usually found at ground level?

saabsaab

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117995805#Comment_117995805

No they go up too in sheds and attics.

jmkennedyie

To me can be narrowed down to the question field mouse or a young brown rat?? And the answer might be we need a better photo (hairy tail? size of ears)!!

More specifically...

Neither of the shrews, not a bank vole or dormouse.

Black rat: No (colouring and I presume the apartment isn't on Lambay).

House Mouse: Looks too big to me and colouring too brown and belly too pale.

Wood Mouse: Size good. Colour good. Tail length seems good. Tail a bit thicker than I was expecting. Hard to see if ears are very big.

Brown Rat: seems a bit small. Tail a bit long but thickness ok? Maybe a young brown rat?

Upstairs balcony would suggest rat more than wood mouse but if poisoned or dropped up by a raptor then maybe a wood mouse.

My 2 cent

It's a rouse.

Jim_Hodge

It's a House Mouse. It's definitely not a Wood Mouse (commonly called Field Mouse).

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117995090#Comment_117995090

100% Dead Rat or perhaps resting 🤔😏

Tail seems too long to be a mouse

Comment_below

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117997327#Comment_117997327

That's very informative Thanks

I can send a video if that's any good?

That's all I have as the photo is a still of the video

happyoutscan

It's a mouse.

Eddie B

For me, this is definitely a young rat.

First off, the head is large compared to the size of the body.

Secondly, look how blunt that face is. A mouses face/nose is more pointed.

Thirdly, those small ears are more rat like

Lastly, we have the tail, which may look like it's longer than the head plus body, but actually it's the same length or maybe even shorter.

mad m

any sign of poop around where you caught it?

mouse poop = grain of rice

rat poop = raisin shape and size

New Home

I'd have said mouse, too.

Jim_Hodge

It is, without doubt, a mouse. A House Mouse (Mus musculus) at that.

Comment_below

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118067740#Comment_118067740

It's a rented place so I'm not there to look at vermin poo........(luckily lol)

I'm going to side with the majority and say it's a mouse but put bait trap down that's intended for rats

saabsaab

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118076075#Comment_118076075

Will kill both. If the full bait disappears it's rats if nibbled it's mice.

I was told to glue the bait down to a board to stop it being moved.

Comment_below

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118076901#Comment_118076901

That's very helpful advice! Thanks

Although, it would be hilarious to see a rat blindly scurring around with it's head stuck in the bait box! lol

Comment_below

Actually what if you open the bait traps and say put put a screw through the plastic container to stop it from being moved when the bait trap is being placed outside, the long screw or spike goes into the ground. Does the human interference or scent scare the vermin away from entering the bait trap when its closed again?

saabsaab

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118077626#Comment_118077626

Rats are change averse and will avoid something new or a new scent for a while but will eventually overcome this.