What to do with caught mouse during MN winter

Question
As my subject line states, I just caught a mouse in my home and am wondering what to do with it. I don't think that I can release it outside because we are snow packed and the temperatures are quite frigid in central Minnesota mid-January (and they probably won't make it to 50 degrees on a regular basis until April). I also don't want to release it back into my home for obvious reasons. What are my options in terms of doing right for both the mouse and myself? And how am I to do it? I don't want a pet (and I don't think it wants to be a pet) but I want to do what I can to ensure its safety and happiness. Thanks for your help.

Answer
Hi Jamie,

First of all, thank you for being so considerate with the mousey!  Few people go to the trouble.  :)

If you want to hold onto it until April, you can put it an escape-proof cage or chew-proof container (if the head can squeeze through an opening, so can the rest of the body!).  All you have to do to care for it is provide a bedding - aspen is very inexpensive and only needs changed about once a week, or you can use newspaper or shredded paper that would need changed every 1-3 days (depending on how fast it gets stinky).  Don't handle the mouse, and if you think it may be a deer mouse, don't breathe in the dirty bedding as they can carry hantavirus.  It'll need a water source, but since it is wild, it may not use a water bottle (though you can certainly try).  Other ways to provide water include keeping a moist food item, like stale bread or mealworms, in the cage every day.  You can feed things like a mouse mix from the pet store, stale bread, cheerios, unsalted crackers, or even sunflower or pumpkin/squash seeds.

If this all sounds like way too much work or not an option, you can talk to your local pet shops and see if they have any suggestions.  They may know of local rescues that work with mice, otherwise, you can try calling non-rodent rescues and asking if they know of any organization, breeder, or mouse-savvy person in your area who can help.  You can also ask around at vet offices, especially ones that work with pocket pets, and seeing if they know anyone or can offer you assistance in finding the mouse a temporary home.

Lastly, check online to see if you can find any mouse breeders in your area.  If they can't take it in, they may still be able to help you relocate it.

Best of luck, and thank you again for taking the time to rehome him!
-Tam