In fact, they are highly suspicious of changes that occur within their territories, such as the addition of bait stations. Rats eat much more food at a single feeding than a mouse. These animals have slightly larger territories than do mice. Once established, their territories may cover an area of approximately a 50-foot radius relative to the nest. An area is baited with the hope the rat or mouse will stumble into the bait, eat it, and eventually die.
Fecal material is deposited daily by both rats and mice.
A mouse may produce 50 to 100 droppings daily, while a rat will produce about 50 per day. These might be seen in crawl spaces or in dusty areas within buildings. Holes made by mice will be about 0.5 to one inch in diameter. Rats will be two inches or more in diameter. May be found around the foundation base.