Tiny Droppings, Big Hazards: How to Identify Infestation Signs & Clean Mouse Poop in Your Home

Even though mouse poop may sound like a funny topic, it is actually one of the most dangerous parts of a mouse infestation. Mice and rodents typically don’t bite people at random like other pests, but their droppings are how they spread disease, contaminate food, and wreak havoc on your health and peace of mind.

If you see mouse infestation signs, you’ll want to take immediate steps to clean mouse poop from your home—discover how with our guide!

What Are the Signs of a Mouse Infestation?

The most common infestation sign is seeing mouse droppings around your home. This means that they are living, eating, and nesting somewhere within your home. However, some other signs of a mouse infestation include:

• Gnawed on fabric, containers, wires, furniture, or materials in your home
• Ammonia-like odor, especially near droppings
• Scratching or skittering noises, especially at night or inside your walls or ceiling
• Footprints along dusty areas (you can actually use this as a test by lightly dusting flour around an area you suspect has mice)
• Agitated pets
• Seeing live or dead mice in or around your home

What Does Mouse Poop Look Like?

The easiest way to tell if something is mouse poop is by its shape and size. Mice droppings are thin and average ¼ inch in length. The best comparison is that mouse poop looks very similar to dark or black rice.

Location can also help you identify mouse droppings/poop. Mice tend to spend their time in dark, isolated spaces or where there’s food. The most common areas for mouse droppings include:

• Pantries
• Cabinets
• Closets
• Attics
• Crawlspaces
• Air vents
• Exposed pipes
• Holes in your wall
• Garages 
• Under furniture

You may even find mice droppings in your refrigerator if they’ve found a way inside!

What Can Be Mistaken for Mice Droppings?

Identifying mouse droppings can be tricky since they resemble rat and roach droppings. The main differences are in size and shape—location isn’t a reliable clue since all three pests hide in similar places.

Rat droppings are larger and wider, sometimes up to an inch long, with a sausage-like shape. Mouse droppings are smaller, rice-shaped, and often pointed at the ends (sometimes with hairs in them).

Cockroach droppings are usually smaller and more rounded, resembling pellets. However, large roaches can leave droppings similar in size to mice, making shape the best way to tell them apart.

Are Mouse Droppings Dangerous?

Yes, mouse droppings in your house can be dangerous, especially if they are near food sources. Rodents such as mice and rats are known for spreading diseases, but what you may not know is that the main way these diseases are spread is through their droppings.

Mice can either contaminate your food supply, or viruses and bacteria from the infected droppings can get into the air of your home and make you sick. Some of the illnesses that mouse droppings can spread include:

• Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome
• Salmonella 
• Rat Bite Fever
• Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis (LCMV)
• Leptospirosis 

Why Do I See Mouse Droppings But No Mice?

You may think that if you’re not seeing mice, then you don’t have a problem. But the presence of droppings alone can point to a mouse infestation in your home. If you’re seeing droppings but no mice, there’s likely a nest hidden somewhere in your house, and the droppings are where they’re visiting most often. Mice are sneaky pests and nocturnal, so you may not see them as they’re most active at night and avoid crowded or loud spaces. 

Can One Mouse Leave a Lot of Droppings?

Yes, if you’re noticing a lot of droppings, it could be just one mouse. On average, mice produce 50 to 75 droppings a day. But while it could be just one mouse producing the droppings, you’ll want to call in an exterminator as soon as you see them to avoid the risk of disease and damage.

What to Do If You Notice Mouse Poop?

The CDC has recommended instructions on what to do if you notice mouse poop. These instructions are as follows:

• First, put on protective, disposable gloves like rubber or plastic.
• Use a bleach solution or an EPA-registered disinfectant spray to get the poop wet.
• Make sure it stays wet with your solutions for at least five minutes or whatever the instructions say.
• Wipe up the mouse poop with disposable paper towels.
• Dispose of paper towels in a covered garbage can that will be emptied soon. If you have a trash bin outside, use this one instead of the one in your kitchen, bathroom, or living spaces.
• Clean the area again with a disinfectant. You may also want to take the time to clean all hard surfaces near the area and investigate the rest of your house for contaminated areas.
• Wash your gloves with soap and water before removing them from your hands.
• Dispose of the gloves by removing them inside out.
• Wash your hands with soap and water after removing gloves.

Once the area is cleaned, you’ll want to call in a pest control technician to investigate your house for a mouse infestation. Remember, seeing mice droppings likely means you have a nest in your home—avoid health risks as soon as possible by having a trained pest control company like F&W remove mice at the source.

Is It OK to Vacuum Mouse Droppings?

You should not vacuum mouse droppings. Vacuums can cause the air-borne viruses and bacteria on the droppings to be dispersed, increasing your risk of breathing contaminated air in and getting sick. Follow the CDC instructions above to clean up mouse poop safely.

Get Rid of Mice with F&W Pest Control

With the risks of disease and contaminated food, you don’t want to let a mouse problem linger in your home. The only way to ensure your house is rodent-free is by having a rodent control professional conduct a thorough investigation, implement a strategic extermination plan, and regularly provide preventative measures.

At F&W, we’ve been in the pest and rodent control industry for almost 90 years now. We’re the experts in finding nests and getting rid of rodents from the source. For long-term protection, we offer our customers a monthly payment plan that covers both emergencies and preventative maintenance. Trust your home to the experts in rodent control in Massachusetts, and get your free quote from us today!