How fresh are rat droppings that crumble when you push down on them?

Rat droppings that crumble when you push down on them are typically a sign that they are a few weeks old. Fresh droppings are usually moist, soft, and have a shiny appearance, while older droppings tend to dry out, losing moisture and becoming more brittle and crumbly over time.

As rat droppings age, they change significantly in texture and appearance. If the droppings crumble easily, it indicates that they've been exposed to the environment for a duration that allows them to dry out considerably, which usually occurs after several days to a couple of weeks. Thus, deducing that they are a few weeks old aligns with their typical physical state in the decomposition process.

The other answer choices suggest less time, which would not accurately describe droppings that have reached the crumbling stage, supporting the reasoning behind the selection of a few weeks old as the correct answer.