If you own a home in the UK, rodent control is not just something that happens to other people. Across the country, councils and pest professionals are dealing with rodents every day, and the numbers show the problem is not slowing down.
In 2024, UK local authorities made 291,132 visits to people’s homes to deal with pest infestations, and 91 percent of those visits were to tackle rodents. Councils also spent around £40 million tackling rodent infestations that year. Whether you are in a city terrace, a semi with a garage, or a rural cottage, the basics are the same. Rodents go where the food, water and shelter are easy.
Rats vs Mice: Why Identifying the Rodent Matters
Rats and mice behave differently, leave different evidence, and often require different control approaches. Treating a rat problem like a mouse problem is one of the biggest reasons people waste time and money.
How to tell them apart quickly
Rats are larger, stronger and more cautious. Mice are smaller, faster and often live closer to food sources inside the home.
Rats tend to travel along edges and walls, and they can enter buildings through gaps around drains, airbricks, broken vents, damaged brickwork and poorly sealed pipework. Mice can squeeze through much smaller gaps. That is why you will sometimes hear the phrase that mice can get through a hole the width of a pencil.
If you only take one thing from this blog, take this. If you have rats, you need to think about structural access, drains, and heavy-duty proofing. If you have mice, you need to think about fine-detail proofing and internal harbourage near kitchens and utility areas.
The Signs: What Rats Leave Behind vs What Mice Leave Behind
Droppings
Droppings are one of the clearest clues.Rats leave larger droppings, often found along skirting boards, behind appliances, in garages, sheds, lofts and near outdoor bins. Mice leave much smaller droppings and you are more likely to find them inside kitchen units, drawers, under sinks, behind cookers and in pantries.
If you are unsure, do not handle droppings with bare hands. Rodents can carry diseases, and droppings and urine can contaminate surfaces.
Noise and timing
Mice are often heard as light scratching, especially at night, behind walls and in ceilings near bedrooms. Rats are heavier. Their movement can sound like louder scuttling, and in lofts it can sound like something thumping or shifting insulation.
Smear marks and tracks
Rats are more likely to leave visible grease marks along regular routes on walls, pipes and edges. Mice can leave marks too, but because they are lighter and more scattered, it can be subtler.
Damage and gnawing
Both rats and mice gnaw constantly. Rats can cause more obvious damage to wood, plastic, soft metals and cables. This is one reason rodent infestations are not just unpleasant but potentially dangerous. Chewed wiring can increase fire risk, and damaged pipework can lead to leaks and damp.
UK Rodent Reality for Homeowners
Rodents in homes are common enough that many councils treat them as a routine demand. That 2024 figure of 291,132 home visits is one of the clearest snapshots of how widespread the issue is across the UK.
On top of this, pest industry monitoring continues to report increases in rodent activity. For example, Rentokil reported an increase in reported rodent activity moving from Q3 to Q4 of 2024, with rat activity and mouse activity both rising in that period.
The takeaway is simple. If you spot early signs, it is worth acting quickly. Rodents reproduce fast, and a small issue can become a full infestation before you realise what is happening.
What To Do First, Before You Choose Any Products
Whether you use rodenticides or not, the first steps are always the same.
- Remove food sources. Store food in sealed containers, including pet food. Clear crumbs and spills, and keep compost and bird food managed carefully.
- Improve waste control. Use bins with tight lids and avoid leaving bagged rubbish accessible.
- Reduce harbourage. Clear clutter, tidy sheds and garages, and cut back dense vegetation near walls and fences.
- Start proofing entry points. This is the part most DIY attempts skip, and it is the part that stops reinfestation.
Proofing is where a retailer conversation becomes really valuable. A good proofing product is not about looking tidy. It is about stopping repeat callouts.
Controlling Rodents Without Rodenticides
If you do not want to use rodenticides, or you have a situation where they are not suitable, you still have options.
Traps
Traps can be effective when they are placed correctly and checked regularly. For mice, snap traps and enclosed traps can work well when placed along skirting lines and behind appliances where activity is seen. For rats, you need traps designed for rats and you need more careful placement because rats are cautious and often avoid new objects at first.
If you have children or pets, choose trap designs that reduce accidental contact and always place traps in safe, inaccessible areas.
Proofing plus trapping is the winning combination
Trapping alone catches rodents that are already inside, but it does not stop more coming in. Proofing prevents the problem from restarting.
When to call a professional
If you have rats, repeated sightings, activity in lofts or under floors, or you suspect drain involvement, a professional inspection is often the safest and fastest route. Professionals can identify entry points you will not spot, especially around airbricks, pipe runs and damaged external gaps.
Controlling Rodents With Rodenticides
Rodenticides can be a useful tool, but they are not a shortcut and they must be used responsibly.
Consumer products vs professional products
In the UK, homeowners can buy certain consumer rodent control products. Professional products are increasingly restricted to trained users, and retailers will usually make it clear what is suitable for domestic purchase.
If you choose a rodenticide product, follow the label exactly. Use tamper-resistant bait stations where required, and never leave bait loose where children, pets or wildlife could access it.
Why baiting needs caution
Rodents can move bait. Pets can access bait. Wildlife can be harmed if products are misused. This is why proofing, hygiene and monitoring matter just as much as the product choice.
If you are not confident, or if you suspect a larger infestation, professional support is often the most cost-effective option because it reduces the chance of repeated treatments.
Rats and Mice Need Slightly Different Control Plans
A mouse problem is often solved with detailed internal proofing, hygiene, and targeted trapping or carefully used bait stations. A rat problem often needs a wider view. You may need to look at outdoor attractants, bin areas, broken airbricks, wall gaps, and sometimes drains.
If you are seeing rodents in daylight, if you are seeing multiple animals, or if you have repeated signs after DIY attempts, it is a strong sign the infestation is established.
Final Thoughts
Rodent control in a home is not about panic-buying a product. It is about identifying whether you are dealing with rats or mice, confirming the signs, and then using a structured plan.
Start with hygiene and proofing. Add trapping where appropriate. Use rodenticides only if you can do so safely and exactly as instructed. If the problem persists, get professional help before it escalates.
