Found Baby Wild Rat

Question
Hi, I live in Chicago, IL and this morning I found quite a handsome or possbily pretty (not sure if it's male or female) wild baby rat running around my apartment. I put it in a cup and fed it and was planning to purchase a cage and all the things needed to keep such an amimal. I have had domesticated rats before and was always interested in raising a wild one. I figured that if I got one small enough I would be able to tame it and raise it. After receiving some consultation from a vet I was encouraged to not do this, as one cannot take all the "wild" out of the rat and that it could bite etc. I know thatdomesticated rats are very smart, very adaptable and docile. Arent' then wild rats too, if you get them as babies? What is your opinion on this? Please advise.

Answer
I actually raised some wild rats from infancy to mid-adolescent; and it can be rather difficult. They are taught, early, from Mom that humans are not to be trusted.. its kinda bred into them. You can tame them down and they can become quite docile however they will never be warm and cuddly like domestic rats are -- they will always be a bit more quick to run, and will fight if cornered much more willingly than a domestic will. They also tend to (if males) mark a bit more and have the annoying tendancy to chew more -- not that all domestics DONT chew, I just noticed that the wild babies did much more than my domestics. Wilds are JUST as adaptable and intelligent than domestics; they're just instinctively more wary of people.. rightfully so, given our history with wild rats.

You can certainly try it; but be aware that most wild rats-raised domestically do not enjoy the company of domestic rats. In all circumstances I've seen/tried, they've pretty much kicked the snot out of any fancy they're housed with. They're much the solitary creature when raised domestically.