Rats and mice behave very differently, and understanding those differences is especially important in Southeast Michigan, where older homes, seasonal temperature swings, and dense neighborhoods create ideal rodent conditions.

• Mice are naturally curious.
  They routinely explore new rooms, garages, basements, and wall voids while searching for food and nesting sites. This curiosity allows them to spread quickly through homes in Canton, Livonia, Plymouth, Novi, and Ann Arbor.

• Rats are “neophobic,” meaning cautious of anything new.
  They hesitate to approach traps, bait stations, or unfamiliar openings. This behavior is common in older Southeast Michigan communities like Detroit, Dearborn, and Ypsilanti.

• Both rodents can enter extremely small openings.

  • Mice can fit through an opening the size of a dime.

  • Rats only need an opening about the size of a quarter.
    These gaps commonly occur around utility lines, siding transitions, garage door seals, and foundation cracks.

• Cold weather increases rodent activity in homes.
  From October through March, falling temperatures drive rodents into homes, attics, and sheds seeking warmth and food.

• Different behaviors require different control strategies.
  Mice frequently approach new baits and traps, while rats require a more patient and strategic approach due to their cautious nature.