R.I.P rats!

Well I mentioned the mouse population that had had a rave in our spice cupboard while we were in Adelaide correct? Well, it turns out they are actually rats. Mmmhmm. I can no longer turn a blind eye as I have seen mr. happy fat rat twice and there is rat poo in an assortment of unsavoury places.
When we were gone overnight I returned to find rat poo in CHARLOTTE'S COT!! NOooo!! You have overstepped your bounds Mr. Rat. I may have turned a blind eye if you kept your actions more discreet, but this? This is a flagrant violation of human rights! (isn't it?)
We sought advice. and eager to be humane in our extermination we purchased 3 rat traps that are kinda like little tunnel things. They lure in the rat with peanut butter and then it tips over and BANG! the door whams shut and they can feast away and then they are sent away to live in the creek the next day. Happy ending for everyone right? Well turns out there is little need to crawl into creepy tunnels when there are boxes of cereal (ON TOP OF THE TOP CUPBOARD) to get into and enjoy. So that's that. We tried to be kind. To do things win win. No one had to die here. But I cannot, cannot have little rat poos lying around for Charlotte to get into. No doubt she would as she will put anything into her mouth right now and I have fished decent sized bugs out at least twice!I freaked out today coz I thought she was eatingn one (rat poo that is). Turned out it was a runaway sultana from Esther's overcooked fruit loaf. Phew.
So, to cut to the chase, we have bought rat baits. I know they are horrid and they certainly don't sound very humane to me. Yes, I do feel somewhat dreadful about resorting to these means...but desperete times call for desperete measures and believe me I am just about desperete! So don't call the RSPCA on me please. I just want to keep my children safe, honest, I take no pleasure in killing. Hey, I used to have PET rats so believe me this isn't easy for me. But it is time and there will be no more soirees in the spice cupboard at this house. That time has come to an end. I am just hoping that they will choose somewhere easy to retrieve when they take their final rest... I will keep you posted....