The College of New Jersey, NJ's Rodent Exclusion & Removal Specialists

Rat droppings are roughly the size of a grain of rice or larger; mouse droppings are smaller and more pointed. Noise timing and gnaw-mark size also differ.

Exclusion is the permanent fix — trapping without sealing just clears the current population while leaving the door open for the next one.

Dry sweeping droppings can release airborne particles; it's safer to let the crew handle cleanup with the right protective equipment.

A typical job is a single day of work plus a short follow-up window to verify the population is gone.

Snap traps and sealing come first; bait stations are reserved for specific situations like commercial perimeter control.

Accessible food sources, standing water, cluttered storage, and unsealed foundation gaps are the most common draws. It's also worth checking your attic access panel and garage door seal periodically, since those are common secondary entry points we find during follow-ups.