orphaned deer mouse

Question
Four days ago I found an orphaned deer mouse--I had observed her for several hours and the mother never returned so don't know the circumstances.  I decided to intervene and have been feeding her kitten formula.  This morning she opened her eyes and seems to be thriving.  I assume she is about 2 weeks old.
My question is whether I will be able to release her back into the wild once she is weaned?  
Thanks,
Vinnie

Answer
Hi Vinnie,

I'm glad she's doing so well - orphaned mice tend to face pretty tough odds, so you are doing a great job!  She should be just fine being released once she's weaned, though not being an expert on deer mice, and with each mouse being different, I can't promise when that will be.  Just make sure to give her a little extra time after she's begun exploring solid foods to make sure she can also find hydrating sources on her own.  You can use a hanging water bottle, or you can even try leaving "natural" sources in her little home, like a bottle cap of water here and there (provided her bedding isn't something like paper towel that if wet could spread and chill her pretty quickly), misting some fake plants or a small piece of bread, or offering moist natural foods like mealworms (once she's very good at eating normal things).  They usually figure out drinking after food, so don't worry about making sure she can find water until after she's started hopping around on her own and eating solid foods pretty well.

Once she starts taking total care of herself, you can release her anywhere away from hazards - avoid areas near roads, big open areas where a predator could swoop in, or next to houses where she could get caught or poisoned.  A covered, brushy area is perfect, and evening time is a good choice.  Her instincts should have no problem kicking in!  :)

Best of luck, and thanks for taking such great care of her!
-Tam