Curious, I have fed birds for a long time and I never have had any rats
to use for target practice. I have used the pellet rifle on the aboreal rats that abound here abouts. They are damn smart and pop one now and then and they become scarce.
I kinda like the critters. The deer are a pain when they raid the garden.
The moose never stays, just see em passing thru.
Turkeys visit early in the AM and you can hear them later but they
are pretty spooky.
Fall brings some interesting flyers passing thru on their way South.