Mr. Robin vs the Pack Rat

Exciting early morning here. I couldn't sleep last night so I got up and went into the living room. I was sitting in a recliner next to the sliding glass door leading to the patio. At some point I could hear a pounding. I looked up to see a largish pack rat throwing itself at the glass trying to come in. It freaked me out, but what are you going to do. It finally left, running off to the south.

A couple hours later I let the two larger dogs outside for their morning business. When I went back outside to bring them in I found them with their noses inserted in each end of a piece of corrugated plastic hose that you normally find attached to a downspout. I figured they had the rat trapped in between. I got Archie inside, but Luke was having none of that. I managed to get Luke away and lifted one end of the pipe. The rat came out the other end. Luke was on it and clamped down on the rat's back. He threw it into the air, but apparently didn't have the leverage to break its back or neck. The rat hit ground running and was gone.

I've since installed a couple of bait stations along the exterior walls on the north and west sides. I've named the pack rat, Rocco.

More to follow.