Rat Droppings Identification: Size, Shape and Cleanup

Rat droppings from a Norway rat, the rat found in Cleveland, are about three quarters of an inch long, dark and shaped like a capsule with blunt ends. Mouse droppings are much smaller, about an eighth to a quarter inch. If the droppings you found are closer to the size of a raisin than a grain of rice, you are probably dealing with rats.

Fresh rat droppings are black, shiny and soft. Old ones turn gray, dusty and crumbly. Where you find them and how fresh they are tells you where rats are active right now.

Size and shape

The University of Florida's extension guide describes Norway rat droppings as about three quarters of an inch long and capsule-shaped. Cornell's IPM program gives a range of about three quarters of an inch to an inch. They are usually dark brown to black.

Compare that to mouse droppings, which Cornell puts at about an eighth to a quarter inch long, with pointed ends. A rat dropping is three or four times longer.

Cornell also notes that dropping color can change with what the rodent ate, and that green or red droppings may mean the rodent has eaten bait.

Fresh vs old droppings

Freshness tells you whether rats are active now. According to the UF guide:

Fresh droppings are black, shiny and putty-like.
Old droppings are gray, dusty and crumbly.

If you are not sure, clean an area following the CDC steps below and check it again in a day or two. New droppings mean active rats.

Where rats leave droppings in Cleveland homes

Norway rats live at ground level, so their droppings concentrate low:

Along basement walls and on top of the foundation ledge
Near the furnace, water heater and laundry area, where it is warm and damp
In the garage, especially near stored seed, pet food or trash
Under porches and decks and along the garage slab outside
Near floor drains, if rats are using a damaged sewer line

Droppings in kitchen drawers and upper cabinets are more often from mice. Droppings in the attic in Cleveland are more likely mice or squirrels than rats.

Other signs that go with rat droppings

Droppings rarely show up alone. The UF guide lists other signs to look for:

Rub marks: dark, greasy smudges along runways. Fresh ones smudge when you touch them.
Tracks: five toes on the hind foot and four on the front, often with a tail drag mark. Dusting a runway with talcum powder can reveal them.
Gnaw marks: fresh gnawing on wood is light-colored with rough edges.
Burrows: holes about three inches wide with fresh dirt in front.

Together these signs show where rats travel, which is where traps belong.

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How to clean up rat droppings safely

Do not sweep or vacuum droppings. The CDC says that can stir virus particles into the air. Follow these steps from CDC guidance:

Open doors and windows for 30 minutes before cleaning and leave the area while it airs out.
Wear rubber or plastic gloves.
Spray droppings and urine with a disinfectant, or a fresh mix of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water, until very wet. Let it soak five minutes.
Wipe up with paper towels and throw them in a covered trash can.
Mop or wipe the area with disinfectant.
Wash gloved hands, remove gloves, then wash your hands with soap and warm water.

For large amounts of droppings in a basement, garage or attic, consider professional droppings cleanup.

Droppings near a floor drain

In older Cleveland neighborhoods, a cluster of rat droppings near a basement floor drain, laundry drain or old cleanout, with no burrows or gaps outside, can point to a damaged sewer line. Norway rats are strong swimmers and can travel through broken laterals. In that case, traps alone will not hold. A plumber's camera inspection can find the break, and a secure drain cover or a backwater valve may be part of the fix.

In Cleveland, the city's code says the Division of Water Pollution Control maintains the sewer connection from the public sewer to about one foot past the curb line, and the property owner maintains the rest toward the house. See rats in sewers and floor drains for more.

What to do next

Droppings mean rats are using the space. Find where they enter, trap on the runways and seal the gaps. Our guide on how to get rid of rats in Cleveland covers each step, and rat control explains what a technician does.

Frequently asked questions

How big is rat poop compared to mouse poop?

Norway rat droppings are about three quarters of an inch long. Mouse droppings are about an eighth to a quarter inch, so rat droppings are several times larger.

Are rat droppings dangerous?

They can carry disease, and the main risk is breathing contaminated dust. Wet droppings with disinfectant before cleaning and never sweep or vacuum them.

What does it mean if droppings are green?

Cornell notes that green or red droppings may mean the rodent has eaten bait, since dropping color changes with diet.

Should I keep a dropping to show the technician?

Leaving a few in place until the inspection helps the technician confirm the animal and see where activity is heaviest. Clean the rest using the CDC wet method.

Could the droppings be from a squirrel?

Squirrel droppings are similar in size but are usually found in attics and are often rounder. If you are unsure, an inspection can identify the animal.

Get a rodent technician on the phone

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