"Most outside animals (cats & dogs) get worms from fleas and not necessarily the small animals and insects they eat. Fleas are part of the cycle of transfer from one host to another."

To the best of my knowledge, having just finished the flea part of our veterinary parasitology class, fleas only transfer one or two types of tape worms(after the dog eats the flea, not transferred by biting), and nothing else. Most dogs/cats will pick up worms by eating something infected with them, particularly cats, since mice and other favourite prey items are intermediate or paratenic hosts for a ton of little nasties. Or, they can just get the eggs or (some types of) larva directly from the environment.

Freezing does kill a lot of stuff, but there're still plenty that will survive for years in the environment, including overwintering. Best to just not feed anything wild to your critters! Good luck,

-P
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1.0.0 Normal corn snake (Frito)
1.0.0 Creamsicle corn (Tang)
0.1.0 Ghost corn (Raynham)
1.1.2 Bay of LA rosy boas (Rivet, Cali, and Cali's unnamed babies)
0.1.0 Cape Gopher (Mole)
0.0.1 African House Snake (Casa)

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• parasites and squirrels(long) - cee4, Thu Oct 19 12:57:41 2006
• RE: parasites and squirrels(long) - Dann, Sat Oct 21 07:38:16 2006
• RE: parasites and squirrels(long) - grunt, Sat Oct 21 17:54:52 2006
• RE: parasites and squirrels(long) - rosycorn, Sat Oct 21 23:36:59 2006