baby mouse that i found

Question
i found a baby mouse in my living room its eyes are open and it has fur i asked to keep it the only problem is i don't no what to feed it or how to bath it PLEASE HELP :)

Answer
Hi Hannah,

Are you sure this is a baby mouse?  Some species of mice stay very small their entire lives.  Since some species like deer mice can carry hantavirus (see http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hanta/hps/noframes/FAQ.htm for more info), it would be wise to first take him into a vet or a wildlife rescuer and ask for help identifying the species of mouse before considering keeping it.  Wild mice are also less likely to ever become tame, and so may not be very happy living with you (stress can make mice sick and can even kill them).

Mice do not need baths, and healthy mice keep themselves very clean.  If he looks dirty it could be an indication that he is sick and needs to see a vet (mice need to see a vet just like cats and dogs do, ask around to find one who works with pocket pets).  If he is lethargic enough to allow you to handle him this could also be a sign that something is wrong.  Look for dull eyes or fur, missing hair on the face or around the ears, injuries or scabs, thin or hunched body, or clicking/sneezing before assuming he is healthy enough to be kept as a pet (as I mentioned before, adding stress could hurt his condition, so in that case you would need to bring him by a specialist like a wildlife rescuer and ask for them to help).

As far as feeding him, mice in the wild eat basic diets of insects and grains like oats, though a complete diet is a hard thing to mimic with everyday items.  The very best thing to feed any mouse is a rounded out diet labeled specifically for mice - this isn't very expensive and can be found at your local pet store, feed store, or even at some grocery stores for only a few dollars.  Block diets, like from Mazuri brand, are the best, while seed and pellet mix diets are rounded but high in fat.  As long as it says for MICE and not hamsters, gerbils, or ferrets, it's a good thing to start with.  Here is a comprehensive list of do and do-not feed items for treats and supplements:  http://www.fancymicebreeders.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=5

Your mouse will also need water - if he doesn't understand a bottle he may need to take his water in the form of soaked foods for now, like stale bread soaked in water.  Soaking a couple of cheerios is a good idea to get him hydrated quickly, too.  The downside to this is that since wild mice are not used to water bottles, you may need to continue to provide his moisture in this manner until he learns how to use a bottle.  If he is very young he will still need a normal diet and water provided, but may need to rely mostly on kitten milk replacement - you can find this at your local pet or feed store and can give it using these directions:  http://www.rmca.org/Articles/orphans.htm

You can guess his age using this chart, but it only applies to domesticated mice, so depending on his species you may need a vet to tell you if he actually needs you to care for him or not:  http://jaxmice.jax.org/images/literature/pupsposter-large.jpg  If he is old enough to fend for himself and you decide to release him, or when that time comes, make sure you release him in a place that is covered and safe from predators.

Best of luck, and let me know if you have any other questions!
-Tam