Mouse or Rat

[ibruceuk]

Hi,

Just caught this scurrying around in the garden this morning.

Question is though is it a rat or a mouse. Either way should I be worried or just let it be.

Cheers

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• ibruceuk
• 7 Apr 2015
• 1

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• ibruceuk
• 7 Apr 2015
• 1

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• ibruceuk
• 7 Apr 2015
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• ibruceuk
• 7 Apr 2015
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[JohnD]

it is a rat or a mouse. How big is it?

 

[ibruceuk]

Hard to say the exact size but I'd guesstimate the body is about 3 to 4 inches

 

[JohnD]

if that excludes the tail, it must be a young rat. Though the eyes look large and the tail is thin.

The mice I have seen are not as long as your thumb.

 

[Belboz]

99% sure that's a mouse and not a rat.

As long as it's traversing your garden and not coming into/out of the house then I wouldn't worry.

They are a regular sight most places.

 

[JohnD]

I thought it looked like a mouse... but, 3 or 4 inches?

 

[ibruceuk]

It just seems to be popping out from the hedge foraging on the flags then disappearing again.

I do live next to the west coast mainline but it seems to be coming from the hedge at the other side of the garden.

I'm not particularly bothered as long as it doesnt come in the house. It disappeared as soon as I stepped foot outside the back door.

 

[Belboz]

I thought it looked like a mouse... but, 3 or 4 inches?

I suspect the OP may suffer from what women always say about men - no idea of length (!!) Looking at the stuff around it in the photographs, I am not sure 4 inches is right.

The small ears, triangular-shaped head, eye size and feet all point to it being a mouse but I have to agree that a 4 inch mouse would be somewhat unusual.

 

[ibruceuk]

Yeah maybe 2 to 3 inches might be closer to the mark.

Thanks for the help though

 

[Belboz]

It just seems to be popping out from the hedge foraging on the flags then disappearing again.

I do live next to the west coast mainline but it seems to be coming from the hedge at the other side of the garden.

I'm not particularly bothered as long as it doesnt come in the house. It disappeared as soon as I stepped foot outside the back door.

I think it is a mouse and, as stated, they are a common sight in the garden. If you wish to ensure that it does not take up residence in your garden then I suggest you make sure that you don't have any possible food sources available.

People don't realise but storing bird feed, lawn seed and any other 'food' in sheds and outbuildings attract mice (and rats) You CAN store these but you have to make sure they are in sealed containers and not paper or plastic bags.

Of course, mice will eat anything but prefer 'grain-type' stuff so ensuring they cannot access any of that will keep them from moving in!

 

[ibruceuk]

Thanks. I don't think there's any food around. The grass seed is in the garage in a plastic sealed box.

There goes this afternoons plan to seed the patches of lawn that need repairing lol

 

[Belboz]

You'll be fine seeding the grass. Mice tend to be shy and avoid open short grass areas (where they can be spotted by predators)

More likely the local birds will be the issue when using grass seed.

Enjoy!!

 

[ibruceuk]

Yeah we're surrounded by birds, loads of nests in the hedges (they're about 4 ft thick!)

 

[KRB78]

not 100% but it looks like a rat...but as others have said if its not destroying or causing a problem then let it be....this was one of many rats i had in our garden and we eventually got rid of them as they were destroying things and growing in number...this was the biggest of the lot tho...king rat i called him lol

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• KRB78
• 7 Apr 2015
• 1

here are some dead rats we had to compare your rodent with..

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• KRB78
• 7 Apr 2015
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• KRB78
• 7 Apr 2015
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[Alinari55]

I have a pet rat so I'm 100% sure that the fellow on the pic is belongs to this species. Rats are not dangerous, indeed they are extremely intelligent so don't waste your power in trying to get rid of them. Fashionable devices, such as Bait Stations, don't work. Cats are the best way to keep them at bay.