wet mouse

Question
Hi!
I live in Pakistan. I wound a wet young mouse facing the corner of the ground-floor of my stairwell shivering. Its very small, its eyes are open but it appears to by dying. Ive brought it upstairs so the crows dont get it but i dont know what to do. I put it in a shoe box with some bread and cheese and peanut-butter. No response. How do i help it?
Thanks.

Answer
Hello Hiba,

The very first thing you should do is try to dry it off with a soft towel.  Mice aren't that great at controlling body temperature, so it can get cold very easily - especially when wet!  Next, try putting some more soft, dry towels in the bottom of the shoebox (that you don't mind getting chewed on) so it can burrow into them and stay warm.  Put the shoebox some place safe and warm - shoot for high 70s, low 80s in degrees Fahrenheit.  Make sure to remember to wash your hands after touching the little thing, just to be safe.

Some good foods to try for a sick mouse include:  baby food (nothing with citrus or onion in it, banana or apple would work), bananas, eggs (boiled and then mushed up), cooked plain pasta, pumpkin seeds, or even cereals.  If using something like baby food or peanut butter, it might help to spread it on an unsalted cracker so it's easier for the mouse to lick or chew off in easy-to-swallow portions.  You were spot on with the bread, which is also a great idea for mice that need nutrition.  If it does start to perk up soon, you could offer it water in a shallow bowl away from the towels (so it doesn't get wet again).

Unfortunately, the mouse sounds like it's in pretty bad shape.  The most you can do for it right now is keep it warm and dry, and offer it what food you can.  It was a very kind thing you did by bringing it away from predators, and I really hope it pulls through.

Good luck,
Tam