Well I put dry cat food and a chunk of peanut butter in the bottom of a 50 gallon garbage can. I found rat poop, but no rat.They must've been on the edge on a piece of sheet metal screen I hung over the edge but they wouldn't jump in. My husband brought home a bag of Rat X looks like we will have to resort to lethal methods. Rat X is supposed to be non toxic to other species only kills rats . Not good reviews on the product but worth a try.