found field mouse

Question
we found a baby field mouse on the road we brought it home and looked after it we think its about 3 -4 or 5 days old it has fur and its eyes are half open and its the size of a thumb do you think we should keep it or let it free? do you think it has a disease?

Answer
Hi,

Your mouse is about 14 days old (that's when they open their eyes).  It definitely cannot survive on its own.

There are several, very rare diseases that are transmissible from rodent to human:  Hantavirus, Rabbit Fever, and Bubonic Plague (which still exists in Africa).  I don't worry about it with an infant mouse but I can make no guarantees.  If you call a local vet they should be able to tell you if there have ever been cases in your area.  In the States out of 3 million people, about 23 have died in the last fifteen years as a result of hantavirus.  That's pretty rare.  You're a lot more likely to drown in the bathtub, win the lottery, or get struck by lightning.

if you decide to nurse the mouse, here is a post that will tell you what to do:

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Mice-3824/2008/4/Baby-Wild-Mice.htm

squeaks n giggles,

Natasha