There is a foot long RAT in my front Garden (Help)

[Karl O'Neill]

Help.

What can I do?

Thanks

[snarkbunny]

Help.

What can I do?

Thanks

What is it doing? You could turn a hose on it I suppose. I am assuming that you want to get rid of it?

[Shellhead]

First, you're going to need to butch up. Slap yourself in the face, hard.

Okay, now make some basic decisions about this situation. Do you want the rat to live or die? That will determine how you equip yourself before going into the garden.

Rat will live: I assume that you want the rat to not live in your garden, so think about how you will catch it and how you will cage it. Maybe you could throw a blanket over it, and then grab it through the cloth. Then stick it in a pillow case or a box. Then act quickly to get it wherever you're going to move it, because a rat can easily chew through just about anything you will have handy. Given time, they can even gnaw through concrete.

Rat will die: next question... ranged or melee weapon? Hit it with a shovel or baseball bat, or shoot it with a gun. Whatever you choose will need to be fast, because rats can move quickly. Ranged weapon is probably best, because it won't understand the threat until you have already taken at least one shot.

[Karl O'Neill]

It is walking around my garden like nobody's business! It's huge.

I don't have a hose.

I want to hit it with a shovel but my mother thinks it will bite me.

Somebody had building work done in the estate and dug lots of big holes. That's why there is rats roaming all over the place these last few nights.

better call the corporation again lazy bastards were supposed to sort this out by now.

[thespianphryne]

If you hit it hard enough with the shovel, it will die.

You could lay out poison bait or lay out a big spring trap.

[dupont2005]

go to the hardware store and get a rat trap. peanut butter is the best bait.

[Shellhead]

Or you could watch some old Tom and Jerry cartoons to get some ideas.

[howyadoin]

I want to hit it with a shovel but my mother thinks it will bite me.

Tell your mom that this is the day you become a man.

[Guapo Méndez]

If you have a T-16, you can bullseye them easily.

[Karl O'Neill]

This is ireland, We don't have guns as freely as you guys do.

I guess the shovel will have to do.

[jessecuster3]

If you have a T-16, you can bullseye them easily.

If you had a T-800 you wouldn't even have to leave the house.

[howyadoin]

This is ireland, We don't have guns as freely as you guys do.

Good thing it's not a womp rat, then.

[Gary_B]

If you keep your door closed, the rat will stay outside.

[Kees_L]

This is ireland, We don't have guns as freely as you guys do.

I guess the shovel will have to do.

Or maybe you'd have like big sacks of garden earth/turf or potatoes to dump on top of it?
Or better yet: your Mom's drapes (or big blankets) wetted with water for weightfulness to trap him under?. After which: either the shovel for a fatality (prick it like Wolverine 'till the shovel starts bleeding) or cauteously ridding it more animal-friendly...

EDIT: after reading my own piece of 'advice' I'm now thinking: pest-control. Call 'em up, have 'em deal with it pronto or advise you. But if the rat doesn't come from your own sewerage or for your semi-outdoor food supply, than it's likely to just go away once the building work gets done.

[PiratesPensSteelers]

I once killed a rat with about 5 shots from the old paintball gun. A footlong bugger might take 15-20 though. I'd go with orange paint....it's my favorite color.