I do like the way the Year is dedicated to an animal, but not so sure about the Year of the Rat 
Beware of Rats..!!

Ha Ha, bring them on

I used to have an old springer air-rifle and killed a lot of them coming into my back garden. By all accounts they like water and often live in the banks of ponds, etc. There is a pretty big pond at the back of my house, I would see them swimming across the pond towards my garden or in the garden.
Over the years I must have dispatched 50 or more, loading the old spring powered air-rifle took a bit of time and some would be gone by the time I was ready. But I was patient and waited a few minutes and often they would be taken when they came back.
A couple of years ago I bought a more modern PCP (Pre Charged Pneumatic) air-rifle and would you believe it I haven't seen a rat since then
I guess they must know, or are still giving my garden a wide berth or exclusion zone.