Rats

I’ve noticed a influx of rats lately. I cannot feed them poison because it is a slow and agonizing death and anything that feeds on them will be dealt the same fate, and they are too smart for snap traps. I do not feed birds. I guess my only option was to deal with it. I had a fledgling in my yard that I enjoyed watching. The mom Robin was always here drinking bathing and ground feeding. Well the rat attacked and grabbed it and now no more Robin visits because I was there and I think she thinks I did it. 😭 Is there any other way to get rid of them? I have no control of what my neighbors do or where they already established underground housing. Anyone else having this issue? Ps you need to be spending time outside to actually see what’s going on. You will probably tell me to poison or deal, but I just cannot. If I call the city they just drop poison in the hole as well.