I'm not happy about it. I live in a residential neighborhood and don't have the luxury of acres of land where we could each mind our own business (as long as I don't see the rats). I know they're around (tree rats, especially); but I really don't want them in my backyard. Two days ago I saw one scurrying across my patio (early evening) and making a bee line for my potting bench area. Bought two traps and set one up with peanut butter - not the wooden kind; but the black plastic one which I've used before a few years ago and appear to be more humane. So, yesterday evening I checked and it was in the trap; but not completely in. It appeared dead. I took some old garden tongs and put the whole thing in a plastic bag and put that in a small metal garbage can I keep outside, where I put the bagged dog poop; until it's garbage day. This morning as I was passing the can I heard a noise. Yes, it was the rat. I don't know how; but it was out of the bag; head still part way in the trap. I was shocked and upset. I couldn't let it suffer like that; so I got a bucket of water and with the tongs, lifted it into the water and drowned it. The awful thing is that it took a while. I'm still upset. I know that if you see one rat, there's usually another; but I think I will wait a few days before trying it again.
