My routine has been a little bit different lately. If there are no rats in the garage or if they get away really fast, I stroll over to the little tree that enables rats to get into the avocado tree. I walk up about eight feet away from it and then shine my big mag light into it. I have had a little luck with this method as you can see below. A little baby was just staring at me from a small branch. A pellet sent it to the ground where it writhed without squeaking for about twenty seconds. You can see its left leg in the final strained position.
Notice the bloody leaf.
It was a head shot, you'll have to take my word for it.