I am jsut starting out doing small projects in Taxidermy, and I just aquired some rats. These are wild rats tahat my friend strangled after he found them in his shed. I was just wondering if rats are safe to handle or is there too great of risk of disease. I am in Iowa, and as far as I know, there is no Hantivirus in Iowa. Any other diseases I could get if I'm not careful?
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I don't know anything about rats or their diseases, but unless I knew that there was a threat I wouldn't worry about it since I always wear sugical gloves and sterilize my equipment. Good luck.
Yes, they are quite a threat. They can carry leptospirosis, as well as rat-bite fever and tularemia (not just for rabbits anymore). Get rid of them.
Get some pet shop rats, those are safe.