I can understand using pest control methods when such pest invade your home like rats and mice, but I am bothered by the fact that a person can take such a cavalier attitude towards other life forms, and has no qualms with inflicting harm upon these animals. It is quite one thing when they invade your home, quite a different story when you purposely place food in their natural environment (Sort of like a big neon sign, Eat at Joes), and then propose inflicting pain upon these animals for responding to their most basic instincts. I suppose it is futile to attempt to instill empathy at this point, and you will do what you will. At any rate I find it sad that life is so easily disregarded.
In the first post, it was stated that they had only been feeding the squirrels for about a month. These rats were around before they started feeding them. This isn't their only food source.
I can understand your views on all life deserves a chance, and if rats weren't interest in entering warm dry homes, I wouldn't bother them. After spending the past 5 months battling these little bastards, and repairing the damage the caused, it's better to go on the offensive and do some population control. They chewed through electrical cords, the hose on my washing machine, and gnawed nearly through into the house in two places. Fortunately the damage was in places easily noticed, and not too expensive to repair. Your little friends could have flooded my house, caused nasty electric shock, and potentially burned down my house. Rats carry disease and vermin into your yard. I don't want my 14 month old puppy playing with them either.
Rats are invasive, and multiply quickly. The larger the population, the more likely they will want to share your home. If they can't find one, as I found out, they will make their own. I value all life, but mine gets the highest priority.
I'd be willing to purchase live traps, and ship you the critters if you want them in your house and on your property. Pretty sure others here would go to the expense, if you really want to turn your home into a rat sanctuary.
They aren't harmless or benign, is part of their life, and not really so unnatural, they are prey to lots of other animals...