Differences Between Squirrels and Rats

Squirrels and rats are both rodents that sometimes take up residence in your home. Although these are two different creatures, they do have some similarities. However, it is crucial to understand the difference between the two animals so that you know how to deal with a rodent infestation when they start to overrun your home. Here's what you need to know about the differences between rats and squirrels.

Size

Compared to other pests such as raccoons, both squirrels and rats are small. Squirrels are typically larger than rats. However, they do not multiply as quickly. You may have an entire family of rats living in your attic without even knowing it, but you will surely notice a small family of squirrels nesting in your home.

Appearance

Besides being bigger than rats, squirrels have bushy tails. Rats have long, thin tails that are devoid of hair.

Activity

There's a good chance that you will not notice you have rats in your house until you are dealing with an infestation. This is because rats are nocturnal and tend to be most active at night. Squirrels, on the other hand, are almost always active during the day.

Diet

While squirrels are best known for eating nuts, they also consume a wide variety of other types of food. They are opportunistic eaters, so they are known to eat kitchen scraps and other fruits and vegetables they can access. Rats will eat any type of food they can find that is not well secured.

Potential Damage They Can Cause

Rats and squirrels can both cause significant damage to your home. Squirrels are notorious for chewing on things, so you may see gnaw marks on pieces of wood or electrical wires. Rats leave droppings all over your house that could transmit contagious diseases to you and your family. They are also known for getting into your food supply and contaminating everything in your pantry.

Squirrel Removal 

Unlike rats, squirrels don't usually carry diseases that could be harmful to humans. However, they are notorious for chewing on electrical wires and wooden structures in your home, so if you want to avoid an electrical fire or compromising the integrity of your house and its structure, you need to remove squirrels immediately when you realize they have taken up residence. Squirrels can be stubborn creatures and may keep returning if the reason for seeking out your home is not resolved. Contacting a professional company such as Skedaddle is the best way to get rid of squirrels humanely and prevent them from coming back. We'll look for potential points of entry and help you patch them to keep these squirrels from returning.

Rat Removal

The problem with having rats in your home is that they multiply extraordinarily quickly. A single female rat can give birth to a litter of up to 12 kits at once. When you think about the fact that rats go into heat every five days and can get pregnant within two days of having a litter, you start to understand how quickly a single rat can turn into a full-blown infestation. You must take care of the rat problem immediately if you want to avoid an infestation. At Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control, we make sure to get rid of all of the rats in your home. We work to locate any nests so that we don't accidentally leave behind kits that could grow up and contribute to your rat problem. Missing even a single rodent could cause you to be in the same situation within a few months. Our experts have the experience necessary to prevent this from happening.

Find Rodent Control in Milwaukee

When you are sharing your home with rodents, you want to get rid of them as quickly as possible. You probably don't have the tools, experience, or knowledge to and squirrels properly, but Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control is ready to help when you need squirrel removal near me. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.