I think its possible a dead rat is worse than a live one

[TXmom]

I agree with the title here...a dead poisoned rat IS worse than a live one. That happened to my friend last summer...they had a rat problem so my friend's husband put out poison. It was well away from their pets, but within a week their dog was dead in his yard

He had gotten a hold of one of the poisoned rats.

 

[columbiacritter]

I stuff the bait bars down the rat holes and use a long stick to shove it in further than my ducks or dogs can reach. The smell of dead rodent wafting out of one of the holes is always a good sign to me.

I bait every hole I see or suspect and have kept the problem in check though it will never go completely away. Even before we got the birds we had issues since a neighbor down the hill lets garbage pile up to his second story windows. These days the county code enforcement officer just swings by every couple months and gives them 10 days to clean up or a $300 fine. twice they've not complied and gotten fined. Our dump fee is only $10 a pick up load.