There are wild rats at the bottom of my garden

[JulesDoug]

Should I be worried about communicable diseases to my tame rats. On another post I have been learning all about nasty ratty diseases, I obviously don't go where the wild things are   but I would like to know if they are a danger to my pets.

[pegc]

Did you ever see "Willard"?  LOL! Careful, you may end up with the basement full!

Seriously, wild rats carry many parasites and disease that could be transmitted to your rats if you were to handle them. If you don't go near the wild rats, I don't think there is anything to worry about!

[kmw]

I agree with Peg, at the very least you could carry rat lice into your colony.  And for those of us who've battled it, it ain't pretty  

[JulesDoug]

KMW...are you trying to torture me!! I am a girl who worries..would the lice jump on me then the girls or do they somehow in a bionic kind of a way crawl into the house...at this rate I shall be asking where I can purchase a sterile bubble for the babies..

[kmw]

LOL!  I'm just imagining "bubble rats"  

OK - Don't touch the wild rats.  Don't put the wild rats in with your girls.  You should be fine  Unless you DO have one of those strains of bionic, genetically engineered super lice living in your garden.  I'm sure you don't.  Well, pretty sure.  I guess....  

[JulesDoug]

Hey if there are bionic lice to be had they will live in my garden...I'm sure I have heard they are more prolific in the worriers gardens,they breed on fear...anyway about that bubble...