Help, rats!

I've just got a new compost bin. It's one of those wooden beehive type.
I've just been out to do my evening watering and my terrier is going crazy round it.
The pesky rats are inside. The little blighters have dug their way in.

We will have to work out a solution.
Obviously I can't use any rat bait because of my dogs.
I'm wondering if it's possible to sit it on a concrete base or does it have to have drainage?

Can anybody help please?

 

What are you putting on the compost bin to attract them?

 

The only thing I can think of is the veggie peelings?

 

I have a compost bin, plus I keep chickens (as do several of the neighbours) so inevitably they will attrack rats
A covered bait box works for us and neither my hens, or my dog, can access it. Thankfully, the vermin can

 

It may be that the rats have been evicted from somewhere else a set up home in your compost bin, they don't like water

 

We're really lucky here and in 13 years only ever seen 1. In our last house we had water rats (brown and white jobs). Agree unfortunately baited traps are the best idea. Have used a downpipe laid flat on the ground with bait inside (rat in rather than up a drainpipe). The opening was too small for any dogs/cats etc to get through and we had it in a shed so birds didn't get at it either although unlikely they would venture inside a length of downpipe. Worked for us.

 

Only ever seen one rat in my area, and found it dead a few days later.
Far too many cats around here for rats to stand a chance.