# Rat in the trash can, what do you do? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 9, 2019, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-trash-can-what-do-you-do/836761 "2019-07-09T09:13:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-trash-can-what-do-you-do/836761/41 "2019-07-10T21:01:17Z")
[Or this.](https://www.ebay.ie/itm/Horror-Peter-Weller-of-Robocop-LOT-2-Original-1983-Photos-Of-Unknown-Origin-/372546728230?hash=item56bd83f126) ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-trash-can-what-do-you-do/836761/42 "2019-07-10T21:08:12Z")
Grab my TIG welding tank and fill the garbage can with Argon. Dennis ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-trash-can-what-do-you-do/836761/43 "2019-07-10T22:47:26Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/1VyQipO4miw/maxresdefault.jpg "Hawk snatches released mouse") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VyQipO4miw) This short video shows what happens when a softie tries to release a mouse into the wild. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-trash-can-what-do-you-do/836761/44 "2019-07-10T23:42:51Z")
Pick up the trash can with one hand and the yardstick in the other. Test shaking/kicking the trash can to knock him back in as a backup for when I trade in the yardstick. Move to secure a better percussive instrument than a yardstick. Once I have it move somewhere relatively open and without cover. Give the trash can a good shaking and thumping before overturning it so the rat is relatively disoriented and stunned. Flip the can and kick it off. Go all Ramones on the rat - beat on the \*\*rat with a baseball bat. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-trash-can-what-do-you-do/836761/45 "2019-07-10T23:44:11Z")
Am I the only one who thinks rats are cute? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-trash-can-what-do-you-do/836761/46 "2019-07-11T03:35:35Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > Am I the only one who thinks rats are cute? No, I like rats. But I wouldn’t want them in my house. If one seemed to be living in my house, I’d probably try to kill it. But I’d feel really bad about it, because they are cute, smart, social animals. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-trash-can-what-do-you-do/836761/47 "2019-07-12T01:11:36Z")
I had a pet rat once, but that doesn’t mean I want wild ones around. They are incredibly destructive and they poop everywhere. I would probably have tried to trap the rat in the can and then driven it to a park to release it. It’s extremely rare for me to kill any creature except ants. A bunch of ants tried to eat me once, so they get absolutely no mercy. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-trash-can-what-do-you-do/836761/48 "2019-07-12T01:29:36Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > I had a pet rat once, but that doesn’t mean I want wild ones around. They are incredibly destructive and they poop everywhere. I would probably have tried to trap the rat in the can and then driven it to a park to release it. It’s extremely rare for me to kill any creature except ants. A bunch of ants tried to eat me once, so they get absolutely no mercy. They were probably trying to get even for those chocolate covered ants my relative sold in California. My apologies. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-trash-can-what-do-you-do/836761/49 "2019-07-12T01:59:01Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > Am I the only one who thinks rats are cute? They’re just adorbs when they’re [_shredding Ernie Borgnine._](https://youtu.be/b8Gn98fbeMs?t=104) ---
**Author:** ![bytheway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df705f/32.png) [@bytheway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bytheway)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2019, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-trash-can-what-do-you-do/836761/50 "2019-07-14T22:10:16Z")
UPDATE: the rat is still alive. Sequence of events: Monday night, see OP Tuesday at dusk, I cautiously removed the platter and saw the rat was under the clear trash bag which we had placed over the lid, but we could see him breathing. We tried putting another plastic bag full of water in to force it under the water but that wasn’t working. I replaced the platter with a large plastic lid which could cover the entire opening and refilled the trash can with water. Wednesday evening I removed the plastic cover and saw the rat sitting on top of the swinging lid. He had eaten all of the plastic which was over the swinging lid. I yelled out in surprise (since I was expecting/hoping to see a dead rat under the plastic) and put the lid back on. Since my drowning attempts had failed I went to Plan B: poison. I bought a box of Ramik from the hardware store and carefully slid two blocks in. According to my research, the poison takes 4-5 days to kill the rat after being eaten. Sunday, this being 4 days later, I once again removed the cover. I could see the tail sticking out from under the swinging lid. Maybe he’s dead? NO, the tail moved! I again put the cover back on the trash can. I am now considering my options for Plan C. ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2019, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-trash-can-what-do-you-do/836761/51 "2019-07-14T22:19:05Z")
At this point, you’re just torturing the thing. Let it go or put it out of it’s misery ASAP. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2019, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-trash-can-what-do-you-do/836761/52 "2019-07-14T23:03:23Z")
Rat: 3, Humans: 0. Take him out to the park and release him. He has earned, dammit. Please. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2019, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-trash-can-what-do-you-do/836761/53 "2019-07-15T00:15:29Z")
Ruger Single Six with either a .22LR or .22Mag shotshell loaded, one shot will put the rat down humanely, the shot pellets are #12 shot which is _TINY_ (.05" diameter) and will not breach a steel trash can, it might scar a plastic can though by means of comparison, #7 birdshot, used in trap/skeet shooting is .10", the common BB pellet is .18", and the 000 buckshot pellet is .36 (almost as large as .38/.357/9mm) a .22 shotshell has a range of less than 30 _feet_ and spreads extremely rapidly due to the spin imparted from the rifling in the barrel… …basically, the .22 shotshell is the safe_EST_ choice for rodent control, it’s still a cloud of projectiles, but they are low energy and loose speed rapidly, quickly spreading to be nearly unusable at any real distance… trivia; Annie Oakely used .22 shotshells to perform her “shoot an aspirin out of the air” trick shot ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2019, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-trash-can-what-do-you-do/836761/54 "2019-07-15T01:34:17Z")
Not owning a gun, if my freezer were large enough, I’d tape the trash can lid down and put the whole thing in the freezer. If that wasn’t feasible, and I didn’t have rat poison available, I might rig a hose from my car’s tailpipe into the trash can. Failing all that, I’d tape the lid shut, put the trash can in the back of my car, drive to the nearest creek, and let it out there. Notice that not killing the rat is my fourth choice. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2019, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-trash-can-what-do-you-do/836761/55 "2019-07-15T02:05:58Z")
Jesus, drowning isn’t humane. (I think the car exhaust thing doesn’t work with modern cars.) But I agree that this has gone long enough … too long, even. Either release the poor thing into the wild to meet his fate, or find a swift, merciful way to kill it. ---
**Author:** ![bytheway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df705f/32.png) [@bytheway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bytheway)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2019, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-trash-can-what-do-you-do/836761/56 "2019-07-15T06:41:41Z")
UPDATE: Surrender… By me, not the rat. I have released the rat. The trash can was still mostly full of water, and I do not have a hose or tube to siphon out the water, and I did not want to handle the trash can to tip it over and drain it. Thus, lugging it to a park was not feasible. My son and I lugged the trash can up 15 steps to the street and tipped it over. The rat ran across the street towards a vacant lot. Hopefully he stays there. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2019, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-trash-can-what-do-you-do/836761/57 "2019-07-15T06:56:50Z")
Wow, the stories that rat will have to tell all his friends! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2019, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-trash-can-what-do-you-do/836761/58 "2019-07-15T07:36:01Z")
okay, so this has been a fun thread. But…am I the only one who cannot understand why everybody is being so damn humane? It’s a rat. It’s a wild rat. Not a cute pet rat that you play with, and not a tame lab rat like I used in psychology lab. It a frickin’ rat!!! A wild rat, from the sewers. Possibly diseased, and certainly a noxious pest. Fully capable of eating everything in your kitchen, and chewing holes in your walls and your electric wiring.And will leave pellets of shit everywhere. It can also bite babies. This is not something you want to be nice and polite with. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2019, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-trash-can-what-do-you-do/836761/59 "2019-07-15T10:41:41Z")
> [@bytheway](#): > > UPDATE: Surrender… > > By me, not the rat. I have released the rat. > > The trash can was still mostly full of water, and I do not have a hose or tube to siphon out the water, and I did not want to handle the trash can to tip it over and drain it. Thus, lugging it to a park was not feasible. My son and I lugged the trash can up 15 steps to the street and tipped it over. The rat ran across the street towards a vacant lot. Hopefully he stays there. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2019, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-trash-can-what-do-you-do/836761/60 "2019-07-15T19:56:48Z")
> [@Alpha\_Twit](#): > > At this point, you’re just torturing the thing. Let it go or put it out of it’s misery ASAP. > [@chappachula](#): > > okay, so this has been a fun thread. > > But…am I the only one who cannot understand why everybody is being so damn humane? > . . . > This is not something you want to be nice and polite with. Right. I get it. You don’t want it around, certainly not near your house. But you also don’t need to be torturing a sentient being. It’s somebody’s parent, somebody’s child, it sang to its mate to seduce her, and it likes a warm soft bed at night. It’s not evil, and there’s no need to cause it pain for days on end. Either end it or set it free far from homes where it can make a living non-destructively. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-trash-can-what-do-you-do/836761.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rat-in-the-trash-can-what-do-you-do/836761.md?page=4)