I had a similar situation nearly cause me a heart attack a few years back, Mo! I awoke one morning as usual, got my dog bowl and went to get some kibble out of the large container on my back porch. It sat right next to an old butcher block table that I use to groom the dogs on. I was half asleep while getting the kibble so I did not notice that the lid was not sealed tightly.. No worries. I had to reach way down to the bottom to get the last of the kibble while making a mental note (at 6 a.m?) to get more kibble and just as I was leaning down, scooping up the kibble, TWO HUGE TREE RATS ran up each NAKED arm. I screamed so loud that one nearly had a heart attack itself and fell back in to the container.. The other rat is most likely still running.. How DARE tree rats from our lemon orchard come on to my patio and eat my dogs' kibble??? I saw red when looking down at the poor idiot rat that fell back in to the kibble.. I sure hope he enjoyed his LAST meal that day............ Try some bacon in the trap. That has worked for me in the past.. Also, my exterminator told me years ago that if you had a smart mouse or rat, to leave the trap NOT set for a few days with goodies in it.. They are not as smart as you think and will eventually get bold and you will get your guy! Worked for me on my smarter mice and rats.. Now I have McCloud, a true blue GSD mouser! Gotta love those English dogs! I have not had any problems since! Teona **************It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms and advice on AOL Money & Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolcmp00300000002850) ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2007. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - www.showgsd.org ============================================================================