What’s the Difference Between a Rat and a Shrew?

If you have a rodent problem, you might immediately think it’s a mouse or a rat. But sometimes it might be another small mammal that is neither a rat nor a mouse, but can still be a problem nonetheless: a shrew.

A shrew may look quite similar to a rat or a large mouse at first glance, but there are some differences, such as their behavior and ability to move very fast. They’re also venomous and can produce a very painful bite! Fortunately, shrew control procedures are similar to rat control procedures, and it is possible to abate an infestation. Here are some more differences between rats and shrews that you should be aware of.

Similarities between rats and shrews

There are many similarities between rats and shrews, which is one reason shrews are often misidentified as rats. The main similarity is that shrews look very similar to rats. They are about the same size and have similarly colored fur, long tails and pointed snouts.
Shrews live in wooded areas and gardens, usually being found in places where there are abundant sources of food. In the wild, they forage for food in dense vegetation, and some can even climb trees or live underground. But despite these similarities to rats, there are also some key differences between rats and shrews.

Differences between rats and shrews

One of the big differences between rats and shrews is that shrews are very fast. It’s hard to see any details of these rodents unless they are unaware of your presence, because they will usually run away very quickly and it’s hard to get a look at them.
If you do get a look at a shrew, there are a few ways you can tell the difference. For one, shrews have a longer, more pointed snout than rats. They also have a fatter, shorter tail with hair at the base. Finally, they also have smaller eyes than rats.
Shrews are also naturally more aggressive than most rats. They have been known to attack other animals at backyard feeders, like birds and squirrels. There have even been reports of shrews attacking pets.

Are shrews dangerous?

Shews can be a nuisance to humans, and they definitely shouldn’t be in your home. There are a few reasons why shrews in particular can be very pesky rodents. For starters, their bites are venomous and can be very painful to humans and pets. The venom isn’t necessarily dangerous and won’t require a trip to the hospital, but it can lead to more pain than a rat bite.

Like rats, shrews can transmit disease via parasites and contaminating your food supply with their urine or feces. If you have shrews in your home, it’s best to initiate shrew control procedures immediately.

No matter if you need rat control, mouse control or shrew control, it’s best to contact a pest control professional as soon as possible to determine the scope of the problem and get started with mitigation procedures. For the best, most experienced pest control professionals in the area, contact Pied Piper Pest Control today.

Categorised in: Bug Control

This post was written by Ken Perry