3 options

1. Airgun. Satisfying and reasonably effective. Best time to shoot is around dusk, when they come out to feed. Depending on the power of your rifle, you might be able to get one shot kills. Last time I shot rats, about 10 years ago, I had a crap chinese rifle from a car boot sale and rats took 2 shots to kill. When you hit them, they kind of ping up in the air and squeal, then dart away. You need to be bloody quick at reloading to get that second shot away.

2. Poison. Can't remember the best brand, its the blue stuff in buckets. Be careful how you leave the bait. Best to place 5 or 6 doses around, then another 6 or so in different places on a day rotation. This will f**k their s**t right up, however, the 'super-rat' phenomenon can take weeks to die from poison so shooting any bigguns is always preferrable.

3. A cat. A good cat will decimate rats in hours. This is not a job for your average house moggy. I have a half wild cat who destroyed an infestation of rats under a neighbours garage in days.

Failing that, put your steelies on, down a pot of coffee, get a crowbar and a garden fork, rip the deck up and stab the f**k out of anything that moves.

Good luck.

Posted By: MIKEWALKER, Mar 11, 12:01:08