You really haven’t a clue, have you. :roll:
Rats only bite when they are threatened. I would never poison a rat, they have just as much right to be here as I do but I would be more than happy to move them on a bit. 
I plan on releasing them in the woods away from houses & people where they can live without bothering anybody.
I really don’t want to kill them. They were having such a good time on my lawn yesterday - they were jumping and running round. Looked like they were playing.
I wonder if the people who died from the plague were as forgiving,black rat I know but still a rat.
Probably not 
but so far in my fifty odd years of seeing rats, they have not attacked me. I did get bitten by next door’s dog though. :shock:
I found this article, from the Barn Owl trust.
I hate the darn things, but I am more worried about Rat urine because you can easily get Lepto from that. That is why I never leave any dogs toys out overnight, nor water bowls either. I also wear gloves when I am gardening as I get a small cut, any Lepto can easily get in.
A good few years ago, one of my big gentle GSD’s suddenly let out an awful blood curdling ‘scream.’ I dashed outside and could see he was by one of the hen houses, shaking his head frantically and yelling at the top of his voice.
A huge rat was hanging off his top lip and the more Benny shook his head, the tighter the wretched thing hung on to him.
He was a very gentle dog, and wouldn’t hurt a fly, so I imagine he saw it by the chicken house and went to sniff it to see what it was, and the darn thing grabbed him.
As I approached it leg go and scarpered, but left Ben with blood running out of his nostrils and mouth flap.
I got him in the car and it was a dash to the vet.
Fortunately they cleaned him up and sorted him out and he was fine later.
As I have written on here before, my oldest Beddie nearly died when she ate a mouse that had eaten rat bait from next door.
12.30 that night, she was vomitting so much blood, so it was another frantic emergency trip to the vets. He warned me she might not see morning!
I drove myself back, but have no idea how I got home as I couldn’t see through my tears, I thought she was a gonna.
She survived and is still with me today, nearly 15 years later. 
Trouble is Barn Owls are in serious decline.I haven’t seen one for years.
Unfortuantely much of the live food they catch and devour, has been poisoned by rat bait, and slug and snail pellets.
Does a .177 air rifle have enough “bang for its buck” Basser? I would go for a high power .22.
Habitat loss of them and their prey is more behind it.
Yes, I think you’re right Caricature, though it seems we are both right according to the Barn Owl Trust. So sad isn’t it.
Why are they less common now?
There is little doubt that the main factors are;
Low food availability due to intensive farming.
Road mortality, especially dispersing juveniles on fast trunk roads.
Loss of traditional roost/nest sites through conversion or decay.
Other contributory factors may include;
The effects of secondary poisoning by rodenticides.
Increased frequency of extreme weather events.
Paula, I am not a council tenant but in my area the local council provides free pest control for all the residents in the area.
Mice and bees, you are charged.
It’s odd that there are differences in policies between councils. My thread regarding wheelie bins has further such cases of differences.
Seems not entirely right that if you live on a road which might be less than 20 yards from aother, but which falls into a different council’s jurisdiction, then you might get a free service compared to a paid one.
I am not a council tenant either but I have just checked and our local council allow 1 free course of rat treatment per year.
The course comprises of three visits.
How’s it going, Carol?
Have your traps arrived yet?
Hi
A .22 on the legal limit with a Prometheus pellet.
Nearly got Son to do that, he has a .22, but then I thought, no, that is cruel & didn’t ask him. I haven’t actually seen any rats since I stopped feeding the birds.
I’ll let my brother-in-law know about those pellets, thanks Swimmy.
Yes I’ve got two traps. I’ve put chocolate inside them but I haven’t set them. This is to build the rats confidence.
When I see they are fetching the bait then I will set the trap. They will be released in the woods about two miles away where they will hurt no one.
I do hope these humane traps work but if they don’t I will have to resort to poison. (In special enclosed traps so only rats can reach it)
These are the council charges.
I think it’s a disgrace really when some councils do it for free!!
https://info.ambervalley.gov.uk/docarc/docviewer.aspx?docguid=9635d539694c4d0caf500e4b4ec6bc9f