How to use this guide
Look at where the droppings are, how many there are, and how fresh they look. Fresh droppings are dark and soft. Old droppings are grey, dry and crumbly. Wear gloves, avoid dry sweeping and wash your hands afterwards.
Droppings at a glance
| Pest | Typical size | Shape and colour | Where you may find them |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mouse | 3 to 8 mm | Thin, pointed ends, dark brown or black | Cupboards, behind appliances, along skirting, lofts |
| Rat | 12 to 18 mm | Capsule or sausage-shaped, dark brown | Along walls, under sinks, bins, lofts, burrows |
| Grey squirrel | About 10 to 15 mm | Smooth, oval and dark; may look similar to rat droppings | Lofts, near entry holes, garden |
| Cockroach | 1 to 3 mm (small species) up to a few mm | Like ground pepper or coffee grounds, or small cylinders for larger species | Behind cookers, fridges, under sinks |
| Bat | About 5 to 10 mm | Dry, crumbly, shiny insect fragments; crumble to dust between fingers | Under roof edges, loft entry points, walls |
| Pigeon | Varies | Loose, white-tipped, dark; slimy when fresh | Ledges, balconies, roofs |
| Fox | About 5 to 10 cm | Twisted, often with fur or berry seeds; strong smell | Lawns, paths, tops of walls, near dens |
| Bed bug | Pinhead | Tiny dark spots that smear if wet | Mattress seams, headboards, bed frames |
Bats: a protected species
If droppings crumble to a powder of tiny shiny fragments and appear in clusters under a roof edge, you may have bats. All bats and their roosts are legally protected in the UK. Do not seal, disturb or treat a suspected roost. Contact the Bat Conservation Trust helpline for advice before any work.
What to do next
Once you have a rough idea, check for entry points, remove food sources and use traps or professional treatment as appropriate. If you are unsure, take a photo with a coin or ruler for scale and send it to us on the contact page.
Where you find droppings matters
- Kitchen drawers, under the sink, behind the cooker: usually mice
- Loft insulation, along joists: mice, rats or squirrels, depending on size
- Along the edges of a garden path or by a shed: rats
- Mattress seams and headboards: bed bugs
- Hinges of kitchen cupboards and behind fridges: cockroaches
Fresh or old?
Fresh rodent droppings are dark, soft and shiny. After a few days they dry, turn dull and crumble when pressed with a stick. If you clear all the droppings and new ones appear, the pests are still active. That is a useful check before and after treatment.
Related pages
This page is general information, last reviewed on 19 October 2026. It is not a substitute for an on-site inspection.