House Mouse Pet Overrun

Question

Mouse Nest   QUESTION: Hi Natasha,
I've written to you before regarding some mice I caught in my home in a live trap. I caught them as very young mice back at the beginning of Nov. and have been caring for them since. I have 3 tanks. One with two with male siblings, another with a male and female, and the third with a male and female. They male/female caged mice have had a litter each and both females look pregnant again. It is still near freezing at night here in Minnesota so I fear letting them loose yet, but I know it has to be very soon. I would like advice on how and where to release them and with what supplies for their survival. I fear they won't know how to forage for food or water and haven't taught their babies how to forage either. I want to set them up for their best chance of survival. They so love their wheels and cages I just hate to let them go into a world they have never known, but I have no clue how to physically catch them to separate the males and females in order to keep them from more reproducing. I am really sad to let them go because they seem so happy. What advice can you give me? Thank you so much,
Nanci

ANSWER: Dear Nanci,

I must say you've gotten into a bit of a mess!!  I've been in mouse messes before; they do multiply so quickly!!  It is a bit of a problem to release mice who have been brought up tame because they will have less of a chance, not having learned the proper skills from their parents, but still,  mice are a pretty resourceful lot, and you certainly can't keep them!

It depends on how much leeway you have in terms of where you leave them and what you can leave with them, for what you can do for them.  I have plans for a release box for a couple of mice but it would never do for a whole horde of them.  First, it has to be over a mile from your home or you may see them again.  This is a little less likely than usual because these guys have never been outside at your house, but better safe than sorry.  I wonder if you can find a place there you could leave a roughly constructed wooden box for them for a while.  It should have a short height, both because they like a close space and to make it less likely that predators could use it; and have two entrances. You can put a whole lot of seed in it for them and some cloth for their nests.  They can use it while they look around to find something better (of course maybe they will like it so much they stay... ).  You could remove it later in the year when it is warmer.  This is hoping you live near a forest or dense grassy area where you can leave the box.

If you can't do that, the Cadillac of mouse release plans, then do the best you can.  If you can't leave a box (even cardboard is helpful for a few days), leave a whole lot of seed.  Try to find a place where there is easy shelter. Maybe you can leave them a pile of wood chips too, if that is what they are used to.

As for the wheels, they will have the whole outdoors to run around in so really they won't need them.    

Best of luck to all the mice in their new environment!
squeaks n giggles,

Natasha



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------


Two of my friends   QUESTION: Thank you for your reply Natasha. So are you saying it would be futile to try to get all the females to one cage and the two males with their male offspring in the two other cages? I know one female I have has jumped out of the cage while I was cleaning it twice (have caugh her again), but she is so fast I could never stop her from jumping out like a piece of popping corn! I'd love to be able to separate everyone and continue caring for them since I have grown so fond of them and they seem so happy, however I don't know how to separate them without them getting away due to them being faster than my eyes can see! Any suggestions? Also, if that can be done will it be safe for the fathers to live in a cage with their own sons? From everything I've read they really don't stand a chance out in the wild and it breaks my heart. Thanks.
Nanci

Answer
Dear Nanci,

One issue is that you need to separate the babies before they are 4 1/2 weeks old because that's the earliest they can mate. However, sexing a wiggly, jumping mouse at that age can be a little difficult.  First let me give you this link to make sexing them as easy as possible:

http://www.thefunmouse.com/info/sexing.cfm

The main way to sex them at this age is to compare the difference between the genitals and the anus.

The best way to catch a fast mouse is in a toilet paper tube. Then you convince her to come out either the top or the bottom into your closed hand. If they are bitey you will need thin gloves. Then you must get ahold of the very base of the mouse's tail and hold it firmly as you open your other hand. The mouse will scrabble and try to get away, but usually it will calm down some when it realizes it isn't going to get anywhere. At this point you might like some assistance, for it might be enough for you to try to hold onto the mouse and lift its tail while someone else examines its genitals. It will feel more comfortable if its head is nestled in your other hand

You will be able to keep lots of females together.  You will want a very big cage such as a 30 gallon reptile tank.  As for the boys, although wild males are said to get along somewhat better than bred ones, there's still a pretty big chance there will be some bad fighting.  The rule is chasing and squeaking are fine as long as no one is bleeding, depressed, or unable to access any of water, food or nest.  With pet store mice, very often each male must have his own cage, though there are exceptions where litter mates or dad and son have never been separated. As always, if somebody has to live alone, he should be near the others.  However, if a mouse can't get along with others, doesn't like to be held, and always tries to get out of the cage, he would probably be happier with a shorter life outdoors. This might be the case with little miss popcorn too, if she is always trying to escape.

I hope I have helped you to come to the right decision for you.  Please feel free to ask any other questions.

squeaks n giggles,

Natasha