Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently moved out into more rural surroundings and quickly noticed a rat colony living on the side of the house. I have to get rid of them anyway, and I was wondering if it was safe to feed those wild rats to my snake. Since rats are so famous for carrying disease I was worried it might not be such a good idea. Are there any dangers in feeding him the wild rats?

Kind Wishes,
Christine

I think it would be OK if you were sure the rats were pesticide free. I suggest you trap and freeze the rats for awhile to kill any internal or external parasites the rats may have that could affect the snakes. However, I would be more afraid of the rats having poisons in their systems from extermination efforts. Even if the rats are alive and not showing signs of being poisoned, they may still have enough toxins in their systems to affect and kill snakes. I had a work buddy of mine tell me he fed wild rats to a gopher snake he was keeping and suspected he killed the snake by feeding it a rat that had been poisoned. If you are not sure the rats are pesticide free, then pass on using them.

I agree. I don't use them when I catch them, more because I don't know what they've been eating than because of parasites. But then, I live in the burbs where there are a lot more people trying to poison them and using who-knows-what on their yards.
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