Are there nonlethal ways of controlling the rat population?

DEAR JOAN >> In defense of a fine crop of tomatoes in my garden, I have set out several rat traps.

These are muscular versions that work by snapping shut and instantly killing, but this morning I found a rat that had been trapped by the jaw. It was alive and struggling. I released it to crawl away. I’m heartsick for the poor creature.

I hate to use potentially inhumane animal control, however I’ve found no proven alternative other than a semipermanent garden cat, which my two little indoor-only darlings are not.

Any rodent deterrent suggestions you might have would be welcome. DEAR S.G.S. >> Over the centuries, rats have become commensal, which means rats happily live alongside us and wouldn’t have it any other way.

You aren’t going to get rid of your rat problem by killing the rats. You might temporarily reduce the population, but you’ll never be free of them. We have to accept that they are with us and we need to take what steps we can to discourage them from setting up house in our yards, gardens and homes.

With vegetable gardens, that’s hard to do. To keep the losses to a minimum, we need to make our yards less attractive and to set up barriers to prevent them from reaching their goal.

The garden is temptation enough, but make sure you aren’t doing other things to welcome the rats, such as leaving pet food out. Eliminate or reduce water sources, and clear your yard of ivy, ground cover, weeds and tall grass — places where rats could take up residence.

If feasible, fence your garden area using fencing with the smallest holes possible, keeping in mind that rats can fit through an opening the size of a quarter. The area needs to be completely contained on top and below the surface.

There are chemical deterrents, including peppermint and capsaicin, that should be used with caution. Growing rows of herbs and onions around your tomatoes also can help. One reader had success swaddling his plants in aluminum foil.

Nature — hawks, owls and coyotes — also helps thin the herd, so to speak, so don’t do anything that would discourage them from doing their jobs.

You’ll likely always have a little food loss, but it beats having to see an animal suffer a slow, painful death.

Rabbits in need

A rabbit rescue group, RabbitEARS, which has been based in West Contra Costa for 15 years, needs to find a new location by the end of August.

The nonprofit is looking for accommodations anywhere between Oakland and Hercules, in the general vicinity of the Interstate 80 corridor. It needs a space that is 1,500 to 2,500 square feet, with a rental rate of around $1.25 a square foot. The place would be used to house rabbits, guinea pigs and an occasional chinchilla — all animals that are in need of permanent homes.

James W. Moe, director and CEO of RabbitEARS, also says the group needs donations to help cover the expenses of relocation, including deposits, as well as the dayto-day costs of caring for the animals.