I saw a few mice or rats in my backyard. I’m not an expert, so I don’t know exactly what it was, but it looked about 7-8 inches long. I want to get rid of them, and I don’t care if my ways are humane or not. I’m disgusted by them however, so a trap would be least preferable option since it will require handling of the rodents. Is there something I could use, either something smelly or a high-pitched sound generator of some sort that would drive them away? I don’t have any other pets, so interference of the signal with pets is irrelevant.
Cat is also not an option because my wife is allergic to them

1. you could bait them…but you must use a lockable trap to avoid children ,pets or non target animal getting to them
2 you should be able to buy cage type traps which use no poisons and do not hurt the animal….the advantage of this is if what you think is a rat may be a native animal and you can release it in a suitable location…
if they are rats you can kill or release them

you can make a trap your self for outside…..buy some PVC pipe ….cut into a lenght that young kids can’t reach the middle
drill a hole both side of the pipe at centre of length
then wire in wax block rodent baits