What would you have done with the rat?

[spandit]

We have a bin in our carport to encourage us to clean the mountains of crap out of our cars once in a while.

This evening when we got home, we heard a rustling in the bin. Closer investigation saw a rat that had fallen in and couldn't get out.

I fetched an air rifle and with a friend holding a torch, I killed it but trying to hit a panicking rat meant that the first shot wasn't in the best place (but injured it enough to allow me a point blank headshot, with another one to make sure).

I don't particularly like rats but still feel a bit bad about killing it (like shooting fish in a barrel!). How would you have dealt with it?

 

[cranmere]

I've killed rats, they are destructive and may carry several different diseases that can affect humans. Same for mice that come inside, they are effectively incontinent and leave urine wherever they go.

 

[British Red]

I would have shot it, they are an enormous disease vector. Although you didn't get an instant kill, it was quicker than most natural deaths from disease or injury and far quicker than poison. Don't sweat it.

 

[Silverback 1]

How would you have dealt with it?

 

[British Red]

....and then bought a new bin

 

[munkiboi182]

Stick a hose in the bin, turn it on and wait for his little disease ridden legs to stop kicking.

 

[Silverback 1]

....and then bought a new bin

..........

 

[British Red]

I despatched a rabbit in a cage trap with a 410 I have to hand recently. Bad move, really, really bad move

 

[British Red]

Stick a hose in the bin, turn it on and wait for his little disease ridden legs to stop kicking.

I'm sure this is a joke, but I wouldn't jest about it

http://metro.co.uk/2010/07/19/man-fined-1500-for-killing-a-squirrel-452343/

 

[mrcharly]

I despatched a rabbit in a cage trap with a 410 I have to hand recently. Bad move, really, really bad move

It couldn't have been worse than my dad dealing with two dugites down a well (dugites = poisonous snake). They were swimming around in the well - which was about 8ft deep and 6ft square. We needed to get down into it to clear sludge from the outake.

Dad decided to use his 12gauge and that he'd only get one shot to hit both. So he leaned over the well, waited for the snakes to swim across each other and fired both barrels. Bloody water and chunks of snake fountained back into his face.

 

[British Red]

Messy ....mine was messy - and I had to fix a 2" hole in the trap too Lesson learned!

 

[Silverback 1]

Messy ....mine was messy - and I had to fix a 2" hole in the trap too Lesson learned!

Better to be under trapped, than under gunned

 

[santaman2000]

.....I don't particularly like rats but still feel a bit bad about killing it (like shooting fish in a barrel!). How would you have dealt with it?

Was there plenty of time? If so, I'd have called an air strike

 

[spandit]

I suppose it's a good job I had an air rifle handy - didn't feel too sporting but at least I can use the bin/carport afterwards (the lad I was with suggested petrol, although I hope he was joking)

 

[Coldfeet]

I would have shot it, they are an enormous disease vector. Although you didn't get an instant kill, it was quicker than most natural deaths from disease or injury and far quicker than poison. Don't sweat it.

Ditto. Would it be best to burn the corpse?

 

[FGYT]

I'm sure this is a joke, but I wouldn't jest about it

http://metro.co.uk/2010/07/19/man-fined-1500-for-killing-a-squirrel-452343/

and no body has prosecuted the RSPCA for releasing grey squirrels out of traps which is illegal

 

[Swallow]

I'd have brought it in to the kitchen to see if it was a 5 star chef.

 

[MartiniDave]

As my dad was someone who had survived Weil's disease I was brought up to understand the only good rat is a dead rat. I don't even think it should be legal to keep them as pets.

Dave

 

[Goatboy]

Could've tried the old poachers trick of sleeping tablets crushed into raisins to put it out first allowing a clean shot but on the whole I think you did right just to shoot it. They do carry nasty diseases and may jump at you when cornered - fear can give them springs!

I would've done the same as you. It was a quick death.

 

[British Red]

Ditto. Would it be best to burn the corpse?

I generally bury them, but burn is fine if you have a long enough, hot enough, fire