RatsWhat a bummer. Sorry, Cy.
I feel as though it is a tough year all around with critters and losses. I know this year has already been crap for me (lost my favorite Cochin pullet to a hawk, my house bunny died, pet piggie with a pulled hamstring, lost another Speckled Sussex pullet to failure to thrive, laying duck to a rotten drake, cat attacked by coyote and just last night, a huge rat tunneled under the hardware cloth of my pheasant pen and killed one of my pheasants)! This year can go ahead and suck it already.
I'm sorry you lost a pheasant.
KILL the rat bastards today!