URGENT, QUICK REPLY IF POSSIBLE: Got a wild mother mouse and her babies, what to do!

Question
Hey, need some advice on how to go about this situation. My brother found a nest of baby mice (still pink) and their mother. My brother being him did not want these around his back garden, so he's now got them in an old hamster cage. I said i would take them from him, as he didn't know what to do other than drown them :( Sounds horrid, me being an animal lover decided i would take them. Not got them yet, i was wondering do i supply the family with nest materials and let em in a quiet field. Or do i remain them in the hamster cage until the babies are moving around rather than helpless? What would i feed them?! Please help, i am collecting them tomorrow and have no idea how to go about this, even though i want to help.

Thanks, Tracey

Answer
Hi!

I have to say this is a bit of a rare occasion - usually the mother has been killed rather than been caught with her babies, as unfortunate as it is.

If the mother is nursing her babies and hasn't abandoned them, I would suggest freeing them as soon as possible as to avoid causing her any more stress. You could do this by finding an unused carton box, filling it with shredded paper towels and with extreme caution place the babies and the mother in there. Avoid direct contact with them as much as possible, especially the babies! You can put some muesli with them if you have any, and if not, anything without too much sugar, salt or man-made substances. Veggies would do just fine too!

You can then locate a peaceful, quiet place you think the mice wouldn't feel threatened at, and leave the box there. I hope everything works out okay! :-)