I'm far more worried about my fellow man, MikeL, than I am about the occasional rat. ;-)

I simply don't worry about any kind of rodent unless he enters my house. Then he is trespassing and creating a mess, and I deal with him in whatever way works...a lot of mice have met a sudden end in mousetraps here, and the odd one has been caught in a live trap too, and taken a few miles away and released. The trouble with the live traps, though, is sometimes I forget to check them soon enough and the mouse dies a hideous lingering death by thirst and starvation. I figure it's better if they go quickly than go that way.

Outside rodents are my friends. I was just out there feeding the chipmunk again. I haven't seen a rat yet, but if I did I'd say "Hi!". (You really must rent the movie "Ratatouille" and watch it. You might experience a real epiphany if you did.)

I have to admit that I resent the moles a bit, because they mess up the lawn, but it's a minor annoyance. I'd rather have wild animals around and have a slightly less than perfect lawn than have a perfect lawn and no wild animals.

Good news - the Blue Jays returned today! And the birdbath appears to be getting a good deal of use too. There was a Robin in it this morning, vigorously cleaning his feathers, flapping around, and having a grand time.