Thank you guys. No crawl space - slab foundation. Somehow it got in the wall and chewed it's way in through the wall. One of my backyard neighbors has lots of citrus trees so I'm thinking it could be a roof rat that sneaked in and fell in the wall - I could be wrong. I wish I'd took a picture of one I trapped.

Pat, I'm too chicken to try the car exhaust. I guess I'll stick it out with the traps and the zapper for a few more days and hope for the best.

Mario, I haven't tried a repelling sound device, from the research I've seen they don't work well for rats.

Bud, As an animal lover I feel bad about killing them. The rat zapper will electrocute them if they'll go in it which is the most humane way I could find, followed by the snap traps.

Eddie, If i can't get my nerve up to move out the dishwasher then I'll have to call somebody but I'm trying to save that money for paying to get all the trees trimmed back far enough that nothing else can ever jump on the roof and around here tree trimmers are expensive. I figure even if this one came in some other way, at least that's one entry point made more difficult in the future. Maybe just talking to a pro might be helpful. I'm going to try.

Musiclover - these are wild not pet rats - they are dirty, stinky, and can make me sick. They destroyed my wall to get in here and had they chewed the wire in that hole my house could've burned down. I don't like killing them but I have no choice. I've never been in a situation like this before. I think it's hard to imagine and appreciate until it happens to a person or their wife. Believe me I wish they'd just leave on their own.

Herb - We had a squirrel we think - could've been something else - die in the wall after the hurricane when the blue tarp was covering our smashed in roof. The smell was indescribably horrid and then came the flies. So you're right on all points. And I hate to admit it but if I could get the poison in that hole or under the dishwasher where I could tell if it's being eaten I'm about desperate enough to try it and face the consequences.

I really appreciate everyone's concern. It's hard to admit this problem got in my house even among friends...but I am trying to find the humor in it somewhere. I'm becoming an expert on microwave dinners. smile

Here's hoping for the best and soon.

Thanks again to each of you.

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