Rats vs Voles: What Are the Differences?

by Alex Schnee | June 24, 2025 | Blog

When discovering small rodents around your property, correctly identifying whether you’re dealing with rats or voles is crucial for implementing effective control strategies. While both are small mammals that can cause property damage, they differ significantly in their appearance, behavior, habitat preferences, and the types of problems they create for homeowners. Understanding these differences helps you choose appropriate prevention methods, assess potential health and property risks, and determine the most effective approach for rodent control.

What are rats?

Rats are medium-sized rodents belonging to the genus Rattus, with Norway rats and roof rats being the most common species encountered around homes. These intelligent, adaptable mammals are among the most successful commensal species, having evolved alongside humans and exploiting human environments for food, water, and shelter. Rats are omnivorous opportunists that consume virtually anything edible, from grains and fruits to meat and garbage, making them persistent pests in both urban and rural settings.

These social animals live in hierarchical colonies and demonstrate remarkable problem-solving abilities, learning to avoid traps and navigate complex environments. Rats are excellent climbers, swimmers, and jumpers, capable of squeezing through openings as small as a quarter. 

They’re primarily nocturnal but may be active during daylight hours when populations are high or food is scarce. Rats pose significant health risks as vectors for numerous diseases and can cause substantial property damage through their gnawing behavior, which is necessary to keep their continuously growing teeth worn down. Their reproductive capacity is extraordinary, allowing small populations to quickly grow into major infestations.

What are voles?

Voles are small rodents belonging to the Cricetidae family, often called meadow mice or field mice, though they’re not closely related to true mice. These herbivorous mammals are primarily outdoor creatures that feed almost exclusively on plant materials, including grass, seeds, bulbs, roots, and tree bark. Unlike rats, voles are specialized for life in grassland and meadow environments, creating extensive runway systems through vegetation and establishing burrow networks just below the soil surface.

Voles are prolific breeders with some of the highest reproductive rates among mammals, capable of producing multiple litters annually with short generation times. They serve important ecological roles as prey for numerous predators and as soil aerators through their tunneling activities. While primarily beneficial in natural ecosystems, voles can become problematic when their populations explode and they damage landscaping, gardens, and young trees through their feeding activities. 

Unlike rats, voles rarely enter structures and pose minimal health risks to humans. Their populations naturally fluctuate in cycles, with boom and bust periods influenced by weather, food availability, and predator populations.

What do rats look like?

Rats are robust rodents with distinctive features that distinguish them from other small mammals. Adult rats typically measure 7-10 inches in body length with tails that are slightly shorter than their bodies, usually 6-8 inches long. They weigh between 7-18 ounces, with males generally larger than females. Norway rats have blunt snouts, small eyes and ears relative to their head size, and coarse fur ranging from brown to grayish-brown on their backs with lighter undersides.

Roof rats are slightly smaller with more pointed snouts, larger ears and eyes, and longer tails that exceed their body length. Their fur is typically darker, ranging from black to dark brown. Both species have thick, scaly tails that appear nearly hairless, and their hind feet are notably large compared to their body size. Rats move with a characteristic hunched posture and leave distinctive tracks showing their long hind feet and claw marks.

Their droppings are capsule-shaped, about ¾ inch long with blunt ends, much larger than mouse droppings. Rats have prominent, ever-growing incisors that leave distinctive gnaw marks on various materials, and their teeth grow continuously throughout their lives, requiring constant wear through gnawing activities.

What do voles look like?

Voles have a compact, stocky appearance that’s distinctly different from rats. They typically measure 3-7 inches in total length, including their tail, with short tails that are only 1-2 inches long—about one-third of their body length. Adults weigh 1-2 ounces, making them much smaller than rats. Voles have dense, soft fur ranging from grayish-brown to reddish-brown on their backs with lighter, often grayish undersides.

Their most distinguishing features include rounded, blunt snouts rather than the pointed noses of mice, small eyes and ears that are often partially hidden by their fur, and relatively short legs that give them a low-to-the-ground appearance. Voles have a chunky, cylindrical body shape that’s well-adapted for moving through grass runways and tight burrow spaces.

Their feet are adapted for digging with prominent claws, and they move with a characteristic scurrying motion close to the ground. Vole droppings are small, oval-shaped pellets about ¼ inch long, much smaller than rat droppings. Unlike rats, voles have relatively small teeth designed for cutting plant materials rather than gnawing through hard substances, and their dental work creates clean cuts on vegetation rather than the rough gnaw marks characteristic of rats.

What are some main differences between rats and voles?

Rats and voles differ fundamentally across multiple characteristics. Size-wise, rats are significantly larger (7-10 inches body length) compared to voles (3-7 inches total length including tail). Habitat preferences contrast sharply—rats are primarily indoor/outdoor commensals that exploit human environments, while voles are predominantly outdoor creatures that rarely enter structures. Dietary habits differ completely: rats are omnivorous opportunists eating anything from garbage to grains, while voles are strictly herbivorous, feeding only on plant materials.

Tail length provides an easy identification feature—rat tails are nearly as long as their bodies, while vole tails are only about one-third their body length. Behavioral patterns also contrast: rats are excellent climbers and swimmers that can access multiple levels of structures, whereas voles are primarily ground-dwelling and create surface runway systems through vegetation.

Health risks vary dramatically—rats carry numerous diseases transmissible to humans and pets, while voles pose minimal health concerns. Damage types differ as well: rats cause structural damage through gnawing and contaminate food sources, while voles primarily damage landscaping and plants through their feeding activities. Reproduction rates favor voles, which have faster generation times despite rats’ well-known prolific breeding.

What are more dangerous: rats or voles?

Rats pose significantly greater dangers to human health and property compared to voles. Health-wise, rats are vectors for numerous serious diseases including leptospirosis, salmonellosis, hantavirus, and historically bubonic plague. They contaminate food sources, spread pathogens through their droppings and urine, and can bite when cornered. Voles, conversely, pose minimal health risks to humans and rarely transmit diseases that affect people.

Property damage also favors rats as the more dangerous pest. Their gnawing behavior can damage electrical wiring (creating fire hazards), structural components, and stored goods. They contaminate large quantities of food and can undermine building foundations through extensive burrowing. Voles primarily damage landscaping through plant feeding but rarely affect structures or create safety hazards.

Economic impact from rats typically far exceeds vole damage, as rats can destroy stored food, damage buildings, and require expensive remediation efforts. Voles mainly affect ornamental plants and gardens, with damage that’s usually aesthetic rather than structurally or economically devastating.

Aggression levels also differ—rats may bite defensively and can be quite aggressive when trapped, while voles are generally timid and attempt to flee rather than confront threats. From every practical perspective, rats represent a more serious and immediate danger to households than voles.

Lifecycle of a rat

Rats exhibit remarkable reproductive capacity with a lifecycle that enables rapid population growth. The process begins with a brief gestation period of only 21-23 days, after which females give birth to litters averaging 6-12 pups. These pups are born blind, hairless, and completely dependent, but develop rapidly—their eyes open within 14-17 days, and they’re weaned by 3-4 weeks of age.

Sexual maturity occurs incredibly quickly, with females capable of reproduction by 8-12 weeks old and males maturing slightly later. Under optimal conditions, females can produce 4-7 litters annually, creating exponential population growth potential. This means a single pair of rats could theoretically produce over 1,000 descendants in a year.

Adult rats typically live 6-12 months in the wild due to predation and environmental pressures, though they can survive up to 3 years in protected environments. Their social structure involves hierarchical colonies with dominant individuals securing better territories and breeding opportunities. Environmental factors like food availability, shelter quality, and predation pressure significantly influence reproductive success and lifespan. The combination of rapid maturation, frequent reproduction, and adaptability makes rat infestations particularly challenging to control once established.

Lifecycle of a vole

Voles demonstrate one of the most remarkable reproductive rates among mammals, with a lifecycle optimized for rapid population growth during favorable conditions. Their reproductive cycle begins with an extremely short gestation period of just 21 days, after which females give birth to litters averaging 3-6 young. These pups develop rapidly, opening their eyes within days and becoming fully furred within a week.

Most remarkably, female voles reach sexual maturity at just 3-4 weeks of age, meaning a female born in early spring could become a grandmother by summer. Under optimal conditions, voles can produce 5-10 litters annually, with breeding potentially occurring year-round in mild climates. This extraordinary reproductive capacity allows vole populations to explode rapidly when environmental conditions are favorable.

Individual voles have relatively short lifespans, typically living only 3-6 months in the wild due to heavy predation pressure from owls, hawks, foxes, and other predators. Some individuals may survive up to a year under ideal conditions. Vole populations naturally cycle through boom and bust periods over 3-5 year intervals, influenced by factors like weather patterns, food availability, and predator populations. During peak years, densities can reach several thousand voles per acre before populations crash due to resource depletion and increased predation.

How to know if you have a rat infestation

Identifying a rat infestation involves recognizing several key indicators, often before actually seeing the rodents themselves due to their nocturnal nature:

• Droppings: Discover large, capsule-shaped droppings about ¾ inch long with blunt ends, typically found along walls, in cupboards, or near food sources.
• Gnaw marks: Notice fresh, rough-edged damage on wood, plastic, electrical wiring, or food packaging, with paired tooth marks about ¼ inch apart.
• Grease marks: Observe dark, oily streaks along walls and frequently traveled routes where rats’ fur has left residue from repeated contact.
• Sounds: Hear scratching, scurrying, or squeaking noises in walls, ceilings, or attics, particularly at night when rats are most active.
• Runways and tracks: Find established pathways along walls or discover footprints and tail marks in dusty areas, often leading to food sources.
• Nests: Locate collections of shredded paper, fabric, or other soft materials in protected areas like wall voids, attics, or storage spaces.
• Food damage: Notice chewed food packages, scattered food debris, or contaminated stored goods, particularly grains and pet food.
• Urine odor: Detect strong, musky ammonia-like smells in enclosed areas where rats have established territories.
• Burrows: Find holes about 2-3 inches in diameter near foundations, in dirt areas, or under structures where rats have established outdoor colonies.

How to know if you have a vole infestation

Vole infestations are typically easier to identify due to their outdoor lifestyle and distinctive damage patterns:

• Surface runways: Discover narrow pathways about 1-2 inches wide worn through grass and ground cover, creating interconnected networks visible from above.
• Plant damage: Notice gnawed bark at the base of trees and shrubs, particularly during winter when food sources are scarce, sometimes completely girdling young trees.
• Burrow entrances: Find small, clean holes about 1.5-2 inches in diameter without soil mounds, often connected by surface runway systems.
• Lawn damage: Observe dead patches in grass where vole runways have disrupted root systems, particularly visible after snow melts in spring.
• Bulb and root damage: Discover damaged or missing bulbs, root vegetables, or perennial plants that have been eaten from below ground.
• Winter activity signs: Notice extensive runway systems and damage revealed after snow melts, as voles remain active beneath snow cover.
• Fresh clippings: Find grass and vegetation clippings along runways where voles have cut materials but not consumed them entirely.
• Population cycles: Experience periodic increases in activity every 3-5 years when vole populations naturally peak.
• Scat evidence: Locate small, oval droppings about ¼ inch long along runway systems, though these are often less noticeable than rat droppings.
• Soil disturbance: Notice loose soil areas where voles have been digging for roots and bulbs, particularly in garden beds and landscaped areas.

Do you get rid of rats and voles the same way?

While rats and voles are both rodents, their different biology and behaviors require distinct control approaches. Rat control focuses on indoor and structural management—sealing entry points, eliminating food sources, and using traps or baits in areas where rats travel and nest. Emphasis is placed on sanitation, exclusion from buildings, and targeting their commensal relationship with human environments.

Vole control emphasizes outdoor habitat modification—reducing ground cover, protecting vulnerable plants with barriers, and managing landscape conditions that support large vole populations. Since voles rarely enter structures, control efforts focus on gardens, lawns, and landscaped areas.

Trapping methods differ significantly: rat traps are placed along indoor travel routes and building perimeters, while vole traps are positioned directly in their outdoor runway systems. Bait preferences also vary—rats accept a wider variety of foods including meat and processed items, while voles prefer plant-based baits.

For both species, but particularly for health-threatening rats, professional pest control services offer the most effective approach. Professional technicians can accurately identify the species, understand their specific ecology, and implement targeted control strategies that address the unique challenges each pest presents while ensuring safe, effective elimination.

How to prevent a rat infestation

Preventing rat infestations requires comprehensive exclusion, sanitation, and habitat modification strategies:

• Seal entry points: Close all openings larger than ¼ inch using steel wool, concrete, or hardware cloth around foundations, utility penetrations, and roof areas.
• Eliminate food sources: Store all food in airtight containers, clean up spills immediately, secure garbage in tight-fitting containers, and remove pet food after feeding.
• Remove water sources: Fix leaky pipes, eliminate standing water, ensure proper drainage around foundations, and address any moisture problems.
• Reduce shelter: Remove clutter from storage areas, keep vegetation trimmed away from structures, and eliminate nesting materials like paper and fabric debris.
• Maintain cleanliness: Vacuum regularly, especially in food areas, and maintain organized storage spaces that don’t provide hiding opportunities.
• Landscape management: Keep grass cut short around buildings, remove brush piles and debris, and store firewood elevated and away from structures.
• Building maintenance: Install door sweeps, repair damaged screens, maintain roof integrity, and ensure proper ventilation that doesn’t create entry opportunities.
• Regular inspection: Check for signs of rodent activity monthly, particularly during fall when rats seek winter shelter, focusing on areas where food and water are available.
• Professional monitoring: Consider ongoing pest control services for high-risk properties or areas with persistent rodent pressure to maintain long-term prevention.

How to prevent a vole infestation

Preventing vole problems requires landscape management and plant protection strategies focused on their outdoor habitat preferences:

• Habitat modification: Keep grass mowed short around gardens and trees, remove dense ground cover, and maintain a vegetation-free band at least 2-3 feet wide around valuable plants.
• Plant protection: Install cylinder guards made of hardware cloth around tree trunks, extending at least 12 inches above snow level and 3-6 inches below ground.
• Reduce food sources: Clean up fallen fruit promptly, remove excess bird seed, and eliminate garden debris that might attract voles or provide nesting material.
• Drainage management: Ensure proper water drainage to prevent boggy conditions that create ideal vole habitat, and avoid overwatering landscaped areas.
• Natural predator encouragement: Install owl boxes, hawk perches, or create habitats that attract foxes and other natural vole predators to help control populations.
• Garden barriers: Use underground hardware cloth barriers in flower beds and around valuable plantings to prevent vole access to root systems
• Mulch management: Keep mulch thin and pulled back from tree trunks and plant stems, as thick mulch provides ideal vole cover and nesting opportunities.
• Seasonal timing: Implement protection measures before winter when vole damage typically intensifies, and maintain them through early spring when populations may peak.
• Population monitoring: Watch for early signs of runway development and address small vole populations before they establish extensive territories in your landscape.

When to call the professionals

If you’re seeing signs of rats around your property or discovering evidence of vole damage in your landscape, don’t wait to take action. You’ll want to contact our partners associated with Pest Control Experts today for a free inspection and customized treatment plan! Our trusted experts can properly identify whether you’re dealing with disease-carrying rats that pose serious health risks, or voles that are damaging your lawn and garden areas.

Rats and voles FAQs

Here are some commonly-asked questions about rats and voles and what damage they can cause from homeowners.

Q:Which causes the most damage: rats or voles?

A: Rats typically cause more serious and expensive damage than voles. While voles primarily damage landscaping through plant feeding and root destruction, rats cause structural damage by gnawing electrical wiring (creating fire hazards), damaging building components, and contaminating food supplies. Rats can undermine foundations through burrowing and destroy stored goods worth hundreds or thousands of dollars. Vole damage is usually limited to garden plants and lawn aesthetics, making it less costly and dangerous than the comprehensive property damage rats can inflict.

Q: Which type of pest is most common: rats or voles?

A: Rat encounters are more commonly reported by homeowners due to their association with human dwellings and urban environments. Rats actively seek out human structures for food and shelter, making them more likely to be noticed and problematic for residential properties. Voles are actually more numerous in natural environments but are less frequently encountered by homeowners since they prefer outdoor habitats and rarely enter structures. However, in rural or suburban areas with extensive landscaping, vole problems may be more prevalent than rat issues.

Q: Do rat traps work for voles?

A: Standard rat traps are generally too large and improperly designed for effective vole control. Voles are much smaller than rats and have different behavioral patterns—they travel in narrow surface runways rather than along walls where rat traps are typically placed. Specialized vole traps or small mouse-sized traps positioned directly in vole runways are more effective. Additionally, vole trapping requires different bait preferences (plant-based rather than protein or grain-based) and placement strategies that account for their outdoor runway systems.

Q: Can I remove rats and voles myself?

A: While some homeowners attempt DIY removal, the approaches differ significantly and success varies. Vole control through habitat modification and specialized trapping can sometimes be managed by homeowners, though it requires patience and proper technique. Rat control is more challenging due to their intelligence, disease risks, and ability to develop trap avoidance. Professional services are recommended for both, especially for rats due to health hazards, but are essential for severe infestations or when DIY methods repeatedly fail to achieve lasting results.

Q: Which carry diseases: rats or voles?

A: Rats carry significantly more diseases dangerous to humans compared to voles. Rats are vectors for numerous serious illnesses including leptospirosis, salmonellosis, hantavirus, typhus, and historically bubonic plague. They spread diseases through their droppings, urine, saliva, and direct contact. Voles pose minimal disease risks to humans and rarely transmit pathogens that affect people. While voles can theoretically carry some diseases, their limited contact with human environments and different biology make disease transmission extremely uncommon compared to the well-documented health threats posed by rats.