Mouse Droppings in South Carolina Homes: What They Look Like, Where to Find Them, and What to Do

If you’ve found small, dark “rice-like” pellets in a cabinet, pantry, garage corner, or along a baseboard, you may be looking at mouse droppings—and it’s smart to act quickly.

In South Carolina homes (including the Pee Dee and Grand Strand), mice can stay hidden for weeks while leaving clear clues behind. This guide will help you identify mouse droppings, check the most common areas, clean up safely, and decide when it’s time to call a professional.

If you’re already wondering whether droppings mean you have more than one mouse, start here: If You See One Mouse, Are There More?

​Quick Take for Homeowners

• Mouse droppings are a clear warning sign. Even a small amount usually means mice have been active in your home—often out of sight, along walls, cabinets, or appliances.
• Cleaning alone won’t stop the problem. Droppings tell you where mice have been, but not how they got in or where they’re nesting.
• Recurring droppings = time for a closer look. If droppings keep appearing or show up in multiple rooms, a professional inspection can help identify entry points and prevent repeat issues.

What Do Mouse Droppings Look Like?

Mouse droppings are usually:

• Small and dark (often black or very dark brown)
• About the size of a grain of rice
• Shaped like small pellets (often slightly pointed at the ends)

Droppings alone can’t always tell you the exact rodent—so it helps to look for other signs (gnaw marks, tracks, nesting material, where you found them, etc.). For a full identification checklist, see: Signs of rodents: how to identify mice & rats

Mouse Droppings vs. Rat Droppings

​Here’s the easiest way to tell them apart:

• Size: Mouse droppings are small (often like a grain of rice). Rat droppings are noticeably larger (often around 1/2 inch or more).
• Where you find them: Mouse droppings are commonly found close to food and tight indoor hiding areas. Rat droppings are often found in crawl spaces/basements (Norway rats) or attics/upper areas (roof rats).
• Pattern: Mouse droppings are often scattered along “runways” near walls. Rat droppings can be more concentrated near key routes and nesting/feeding areas.

If you suspect rats (or you’re seeing droppings in crawl spaces/attics), this overview can help you narrow things down: Rodents in South Carolina

Where to Find Mouse Droppings (the Most Common Spots)

Mice don’t travel out in the open like you might assume. They tend to move along edges—baseboards, cabinet toe-kicks, and tight spaces—especially near food and warmth.

Check these areas first:

• Inside kitchen cabinets (especially under the sink)
• Pantries and behind stored food
• Behind the refrigerator, stove, and dishwasher
• Along baseboards behind furniture
• Garage corners and storage rooms
• Attics and crawl spaces (especially near insulation)

If you want a room-by-room guide, this is a helpful article: Top rodent hiding spots in South Carolina homes

Do Fresh Droppings Mean Mice Are Active Right Now?

Often, yes.

Newer droppings may look darker and can appear slightly shiny. Older droppings are typically duller, drier, and may crumble.

You don’t need to “test” droppings to take action. If droppings are present, it’s safest to assume there’s active or recent rodent activity.

Why Droppings Are a Problem (Health + Home Risks)

Mouse droppings aren’t just unpleasant. They can:

• Contaminate food, dishes, and prep surfaces
• Trigger allergies and worsen asthma symptoms
• Point to hidden nesting nearby (meaning the problem may be bigger than it looks)

When cleaning, the biggest risk is stirring contaminated dust into the air. That’s why public health guidance stresses wet disinfection methods rather than dry sweeping or vacuuming. (See CDC guidance here: How to Clean Up After Rodents.)

What To Do After You Find Droppings (the Next Steps)

Cleaning is step one—but it doesn’t solve the problem by itself. Droppings are a sign. The goal is to remove the mice and stop new ones from getting in.

1) Confirm How Widespread the Activity Is

Walk the “edges” of rooms and look for:

• More droppings in runways along walls
• Gnaw marks on packaging
• Grease/rub marks along baseboards
• Shredded paper/insulation (nesting)

2) Remove Food and Nesting Materials That Attract Mice

• Store pantry items in sealed containers
• Clean crumbs under/behind appliances
• Don’t leave pet food out overnight
• Reduce cardboard clutter in garages and storage

The EPA outlines practical prevention steps around food, water, and shelter here: EPA – Identify and prevent rodent infestations.

3) Seal Entry Points

Mice can squeeze through surprisingly small gaps. Prioritize:

• Door sweeps and weatherstripping
• Gaps around plumbing/utility lines
• Crawl space doors, vents, and foundation openings
• Garage door gaps

If you want local tips and common entry-point trouble spots we see in the Pee Dee and Grand Strand, this is a great follow-up: Rodent control tips for Effingham, Kingstree & Myrtle Beach residents

​When It’s Time to Call Harris Pest Control for Mice

Seeing a mouse once doesn’t always mean you have a full-blown infestation—but it does mean something is attracting them to your home. And in South Carolina, mice rarely move in alone.

It may be time to bring in a professional if you’re noticing things like:

• Mouse droppings showing up in more than one room
• Droppings that keep coming back, even after you clean
• Scratching or scurrying sounds at night, especially in walls or ceilings
• Chewed wires, damaged insulation, or small holes along walls and foundations
• Extra concern for kids, older family members, or anyone with a weakened immune system

This is where Harris Pest Control can really help. Instead of just setting traps and hoping for the best, our team focuses on finding out why mice are there in the first place—how they’re getting in, where they’re nesting, and what’s allowing them to stick around. From there, we build a plan that targets the mice and helps prevent repeat issues.

Local Help for Mouse Problems in the Pee Dee & Grand Strand

If you’ve found mouse droppings or heard activity in your home, taking care of it early can save you a lot of frustration (and damage) down the road. Since 1973, Harris Pest Control has been helping homeowners in Florence, Myrtle Beach, and the surrounding Pee Dee and Grand Strand areas protect their homes with reliable rodent control and year-round home pest services designed for our climate and construction styles.

If you’d like to talk with a local expert or schedule an inspection, we’re here to help. You can also explore our rodent control and home pest control services to see how we help keep homes pest-free—season after season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you get sick from mouse droppings?

Mouse droppings and urine can contaminate surfaces, and the biggest risk comes during cleanup, when contaminated dust can become airborne.

Should I set mouse traps if I find droppings?

DIY traps may catch a mouse, but they don’t address how mice got inside or where they’re nesting. Without sealing entry points and correcting conditions that attract rodents, activity often continues. A professional can identify the source of the problem and help prevent repeat issues.

Does finding droppings mean I have an infestation?

Not always—but it does mean mice have been in your home at some point. If droppings appear repeatedly, show up across multiple rooms, or you’re also hearing noises at night, the odds of a larger issue go up.