SEVERAL DAYS AGO, I WAS WITHIN 3 FT (AFTER DARK) OF WHAT APPEARED TO BE A VERY LARGE RAT: 10 IN LONG, 4 IN WIDE, VERY LARGE BROAD RAT HEAD, BROWN LONG HAIR, AND A BROAD RAT TAIL ABOUT 8 IN LONG. iT WAS JUST STROLLIING PAST MY HOUSE DOORWAY UNPHASED BY MY POWERFUL FLASH LIGHT. TtHERE WAS ABOUT 2 INCHES OF WATER POOLED NEXT TO THE HOUSE. iT WAS SIMILAR TO A GROUNDHOG BUT HAD A RAT HEAD AND TAIL. IT WAS DEFINITELY NOT A GROUND HOG. TRACKS IN THE SNOW WENT UNDER AN OUT BUILDING. WHAT SHOULD I DO TO GET RID OF IT? ITS TERRIFYING.

I am guessing that the animal that you saw was a muskrat rather than a large rat. Check out: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/wildlife/directory_show.cfm?species=muskrat

They are not dangerous animals. If it is causing damage, you could hire a nuisance wildlife control operator to remove it. Or, if you wanted to trap it yourself, you can contact the IDNR district wildlife biologist for advice. If you have more questions, please let me know.