Rats

[langara]

Can anyone recommend a humane way of getting rid of rats, we have seen a few lately and can't let the grandchildren play on the lawn, our garden backs onto a farm and also a neighbour has an open compost heap, where another neighbour has seen them. I couldn't deal with a mousetrap like system where I physically had to remove rat, but they have to go. Thanks

[Buenchico]

First of all, if rats aren't near to human food sources (or where, for example, they could chew the insulation on electrical cables) they're a perfectly harmless part of wildlife and I'd simply leave them be. (They won't harm your grandchildren!).

However, if you really feel the need to remove them, simply buy some humane traps, bait them and then deliver your new furry little friends into the countryside well away from any housing:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Big-Cheese-Cage-Trap/dp/B000QVSCH6

[murraymints]

jack russell visit once a week !

[VHG]

Phone the council.

[Mosaic]

I'm with VHG and Murraymints. We aren't short of rats. Traps are intended to be quick and dogs don't hang about.