Wild rat

[Snikt228]

Ok this is weird.. I came back from vacation yesterday and 2 of my rats were dead, so I put them in the outside trash can (sealed).

I opened the trash can today to put some more trash in it and I found this girl looking up at me. I don't even know how it got in there.

Is it OK to use wild rats? It looks like a female that I can use. Should I just let it go or what?

I've never even seen a wild rat in Florida. Maybe it smelled the other rats

[rabernet]

Are you sure that one of your dead rats wasn't? That's not a wild rat.

[qiksilver]

yeah what she said. Not at all a wild rat. Norway rats are bigger and meaner and not at all albino.

[Snikt228]

Are you sure that one of your dead rats wasn't? That's not a wild rat.

Trust me they were dead and were already stinking.

I have no idea where this one came from?

What should I do with it?

[rabernet]

Just curious, what color were the dead rats?

[Snikt228]

Just curious, what color were the dead rats?

One was a black hooded rex and one was all white.

[rabernet]

I'm pretty sure your white one wasn't dead. There aren't wild albino rats, they'd be picked off pretty quicly by predators. A wild one wouldn't be staying still long enough on a counter to get a picture.

[neilgolli]

not knowing were it came from to be honest, I'd put it down.

1. Letting it go is not an option, its not native and being a snake person when your neighbors find it in their garage your getting a nasty phone call really quickly.

2. There is always the chance that it just got done munching on some rat poison as well so feeding it off just is not a good idea.

Better safe than sorry

[rabernet]

And, if you really want to be sure, open the bag that you put the two dead rats in. If the white one is gone (which I bet it will be), you'll know for sure.

[lord jackel]

Are you sure that one of your dead rats wasn't? That's not a wild rat.

I agree it isn't a wild rat...but could be an escapee from someone else who breeds. Either way I wouldn't use her...you have no idea where she has been or what she has been into. She could track all sorts of bugs/diseases into your colony or pass on something to her offspring that could make it to your snakes - not worth the risks