baby rat or mouse?

[Cowgirl]

Thanks, didn't realise that about Weils. Like you Eeyore, I tolerate them until they get inside & start destroying stuff, I'd been into the shed today to find something & spotted the motor (which is hung up) & that they'd left a couple of calling cards. There's no other sign of habitation, hopefully it's just one rat on a reconnaisance & a passing visit (nothing in the shed for them to eat). I wouldn't use poison anyway, even if I didn't have dogs, it's just such a horrible way to go.

Last time, I didn't realise I had rats until I decided to spring clean the outbuildings (as basically you couldn't get in the doors). I used to keep the bird food in there & as I shifted stuff the pair of rats ran out straight into my two lurchers who were hanging about trying to eat the spilled bird food (does anyone elses dogs do that? They're obsessed with bird seed!). It wasn't my intention for that to happen as I said I didn't realise the rats were there. A quick clean end, no more rats. I was torn between being horrified that they'd caught & killed something & pleased that they'd caught the rats.

As a last resort, if they do get out of control, I'm a pretty good shot with an air rifle. That goes a long way to disuade (spelling?) them.