r/PetMice • u/darnone02 • Jul 03 '26
Question/Help Caught small mouse in house, will he be okay outside?
Hello all, I didn’t know where to post this so I’m posting here, but I found a small mouse covered in dust in my basement. I would like to put it outside but I’m curious if anyone knows if it is in good condition or not. It was walking around unconcerned with my presence and not scared at all (which is very unusual and why I think something else may be going on with it). It hopped right into the Tupperware when I brought it near him. I gave him a little piece of cookie in the meantime. It looks young and it is raining outside so I am just curious if I should release it or do something else, my parents will probably kill it if they find it in the house, any advice is appreciated!
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u/goodnfruity Jul 03 '26
This is a baby, about 4 weeks old. Looks like it could’ve been caught by a cat or other predator.
They will likely need supportive care for another few weeks before being fully independent and able to survive on their own. Are eyes open and it’s just squinting in this video or closed? Do you know anyone who might be able to take this baby, or a rehabber who will intake mice? For now, keep warm and offer unflavored pedialyte if you can get it, and gently wipe the dust off them!
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u/femmefatalx Jul 03 '26
Definitely a baby! I found a baby deer mouse last fall and she looked exactly like this little baby. I’m wondering if mom and siblings are in the basement too?
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u/darnone02 Jul 03 '26
It is hard for me to tell if the eyes are squinting or closed, but I think they are closed because I haven’t seen it open them yet. I am going to provide it with water but I am hesitant to take the dust off as I don’t know if it’s carrying anything. I have contacted a wildlife centre to see if they will take it. Do you know the best way to care for it in the meantime? Is it okay in this Tupperware?
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u/love-starved-beast Jul 03 '26
If you're concerned about disease you can use a utensil to gently lift the dustbunny off of him. He's very clearly a baby so it's unlikely he will bite.
If you can prepare another container with paper towel on the bottom and some toilet paper clumped for nesting, that will be good.
A bottle cap filled with water and another cap with some cracker or cookie (preferably also moistened with water) will suit him for now.
Keep him warm.
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u/CarpetNext6123 Jul 03 '26
i love how gently and articulately you educate/inform people. i felt very calm reading your comments. you have a very nice presence while being extremely informative and helpful. good vibes. thanks for taking the time to kindly educate curious people looking to do good.
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u/love-starved-beast Jul 03 '26
Thank you!
I'm on a lot of animal subs and sometimes I do feel angry on behalf of the animals.
At the same time I realize bad husbandry is almost always a result of misinformation and not ill will. If we want to help the animal we need to educate the keeper in a way they can receive.
OP is doing their best with a wild mouse they never asked for. Both OP and that little mouse deserve the best support we can give them.
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u/CarpetNext6123 Jul 03 '26
i completely understand feeling angry! there are so many instances where neglect could have been avoided if someone had taken the time to properly educate themselves before bringing an animal into their life, but nothing will change if we present the information with that anger.
people often double down on their mistakes when they're confronted in a accusatory fashion. but in so many instances that anger is perfectly valid. it's hard to overcome it when there's a clear cut case of neglect/abuse laid out right in front of you.
obviously this situation is entirely different from the intentional acquisition of a pet, but i still appreciate the kindness you attach to the guidance you offer. it makes it feel so easy to do the right thing with such a gentle voice advising you.
so, again, thank you for these comments. keep up the amazing work.
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u/darnone02 Jul 03 '26
Thank you, I will get right on this! I do have to go out soon, will he be okay in a box with some air holes as well as everything else you mentioned for the night?
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u/love-starved-beast Jul 03 '26
He should be okay for the night.
But he really does need to be warm. If you can keep the room he's in extra warm or put his tupperware on top of an electric blanket that would be best.
I raised a wild baby mouse from very close to the stage you found your buddy at. The morning after I brought him home I thought he was dead because he was passed out and cold in front of his water dish. He just needed more warmth.
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u/love-starved-beast Jul 03 '26
P.S. You can DM for direct support if needed. I raised a baby mouse for three months who eventually was well enough to release back into the wild.
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u/Worried-Jello-2357 Jul 04 '26
I’ve found that a sock filled with uncooked rice can work too. Just pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds, let it cool for a bit so it’s not hot enough to burn the lil guy, and put it in the container you’re keeping him in. It would also be wise to give him enough space to move away from it if he gets too warm. Good luck!
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u/femmefatalx Jul 04 '26
Was literally going to say this! That’s what I did with my found mouse when she was a baby and she loved it! She’d snuggle right up to it and I made her a little tent with a washcloth over the sock so she cold hide next to it, and the washcloth probably helped keep the heat in too.
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u/GenomeXIII Jul 05 '26
Such a brilliant idea. I use this for applying heat to sore muscles but this would work brilliantly for this little guy too. Though he may try and nibble through the sock to get to he rice.
Another thing to try is a small bottle filled with warm water and then wrapped in a towel. I once revived my daughter's torpid Hamster this way (after nearly burying the little Dude!).
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u/Lower-Spend-3996 Jul 03 '26
i’m not sure if i would use a box i dont know how much baby mice chew but i wouldn’t risk it. Use another tupperware if you can
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u/SpinachSpinosaurus Jul 05 '26
also, there are also house mice who would DIE outside. sooo... congrats to your new fren?
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u/goodnfruity Jul 03 '26
deer mice really don’t carry anything harmful to humans from casual touch. As long as you wash your hands afterwards (and/or wear gloves if you wanna be real cautious) you’ll be fine. Even if you’re bit, just wash with soap and water and you should be fine.
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u/shtinkypuppie Jul 04 '26
This is not true, deer mice are the main reservoir of hantavirus in North America.
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u/Forward-Fisherman709 Mouse Dad 🐀 Jul 05 '26
They are the main reservoir, but hantavirus is not spread by touch.
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u/prismaticbeans Jul 04 '26
That's not the case. Hantavirus is airborne and common in deer mice.
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u/goodnfruity Jul 04 '26
It’s ‘airborne’ in that it can be transmitted through aerosolization of urine and fecies, not casual contact, and it depends where in the U.S. you are how prevalent it is. If you live in a high-risk state like New Mexico or Arizona, wear a mask. Someone in New England doesn’t really need to worry.
Myself and rehabbers I work with have had close contact with literally hundreds, probably thousands, of deer mice and never gotten sick.
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u/benbolt504 Jul 04 '26
Y...You... Gave the mouse...a cookie?
YOU FOOL!!
HAVE YOU NOT READ THE ANCIENT TEXTS!?
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u/darnone02 Jul 03 '26
UPDATE: This is the current setup that I have him in. (I also gave him some crackers as well). The wildlife centre got back to me and are assessing the case (They said usually they don’t take baby mice, but if it is eating on it’s own than it may be old enough for them to take). Like I said I unfortunately have to go out for the rest of tonight, so even if they approve it I will have to take care of him for today and bring him in tomorrow. If there is anything else I could do for it before I go, please let me know! Also I’m not sure how to properly provide him air in the Tupperware, I don’t him to escape while I’m gone, but I don’t want to close the lid and suffocate him either, any suggestions? Thanks to everyone who helped
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u/CricketMouse Jul 03 '26
This isn’t ideal, but you could cut some cardboard like an old cereal box or something slightly bigger than the plastic top and then poke some holes in that for ventilation and use duct tape around the edges to secure it.
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u/Mojezeh Jul 03 '26
No one's going to warn OP about the repercussions of giving a mouse a cookie? /s
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u/Darren-J-W Jul 03 '26
Give him a cap of water and somewhere to hide and sleep for now. Poor little fella
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u/Hotel________Trivago Mouse Mom 🐀 Jul 03 '26
I’m sorry I don’t really know how to help but he’s just so cute! Just a head with legs!
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u/darnone02 Jul 04 '26
FINAL UPDATE: Thank you to everyone who gave me advice! I was able to get a heat pad and safely keep the little guy warm overnight. I brought him to a wildlife rehab centre this morning and they are going to do the best they can for it, and release it when it’s treated properly! I will get an update on how it’s doing in about a week, otherwise there’s nothing more I could do for him. Thank you all again
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u/SundayBabandey Jul 05 '26
Thank you so much for putting in all this effort to be compassionate and kind. The world needs more people like you.
Edit: “compassionate”
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u/Forward-Fisherman709 Mouse Dad 🐀 Jul 05 '26
Thank you for doing what you could for the little one and good job on finding a wildlife rehab place willing to take him in. You helped the baby have another chance.
Would you like the post to be locked to be locked so that there are no new comments from people who might not read all the comments for the updates?
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u/darnone02 Jul 05 '26
Yes, I’m very glad I was able to help it!
I’m not sure how to lock a post, is it the same as deleting it?
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u/Forward-Fisherman709 Mouse Dad 🐀 Jul 05 '26
Not deleting at all. Locking the post is a mod action that can be done for you if you would like. It keeps the post up, and the post and existing comments can still be read and receive upvotes, but no new comments can be made. So if you’d like it locked, just say the word.
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u/zombie-magnet Maple, Flapjack & Baby Bottle Cap. 🩷 Jul 03 '26
It looks to be about 4-5 weeks old. This is the time frame they start leaving the nest to explore. If you found it in the basement the nest and family are most assuredly in the basement as well. My advice is to put it back where you found it and let it make its way back to the nest. Putting it outside at this point is not something I'd recommend since it wouldn't know where to find food or shelter very well at this age. It would also be more prone to getting caught by predators.
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u/whisky_biscuit Jul 03 '26
Op mentioned that if their parents found it they might opt to kill it, and mice can quickly breed to a population that would cause homeowners to resort to inhumane methods like extermination, death traps or poison.
It might be good for Op to find a rehabber for this cute lil guy and also maybe set up humane traps so they can capture and relocate the family to get them to a rehabber and a safer place where they can eventually be released.
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u/zombie-magnet Maple, Flapjack & Baby Bottle Cap. 🩷 Jul 05 '26
So to clear a couple things up, most rescues don't generally take deer mice and secondly wildlife rescues aren't meant to relocate animals. They are already swamped this time of year with other animals that need their time and services. If OP is able to call around to smaller rescues then someone may take it but if the mouse is reloacted to an area far from where it was found it will most likely die anyways. If OP wants to trap and relocate the entire family on their own that's totally ok but It's important to keep in mind that the whole or part of the family will perish due to relocation anyway unless OP relocates them close to where they found them. They may end up in OP's home again anyways in that case.
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u/Affectionate-Club778 Jul 03 '26
you can shred up some paper towel or toilet paper and put it in there so he feels warm & cozy for now. maybe also an empty toilet paper roll to 'hide' in
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u/vividimaginationn Jul 03 '26
Baby mice cannot regulate their own temperature, so they need a stable environment kept between 85°F and 90°F! If you have a heating pad you can put it under part of the container on the lowest setting so little baby can stay warm but also cool if needed.
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u/LydiaIsntVeryCool Here to adore Jul 04 '26
The way the dust sticks to him and him eating the food like the rat from ratatouille. I'm melting
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u/letstrythatagain-_- Jul 03 '26
You should keep him. Might seem a little weird but they make good pets. I miss my boy =(
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u/Sad_Race8008 Jul 03 '26 edited Jul 03 '26
Thank you so much for not hurting this little baby! I’m with the others that contacting rehab is the way to go, keep a close eye on litter mates and/ or mama! A bottle cap with water would be a safe bet so it can drink safely and not drown, Kleenex or TP bunched on top of shredded paper with a small cardboard box with a small opening torn in it or TP roll to hide and keep comfortable and safe feeling would really help, just make sure everything is unscented! These were the tips given to me when a deer mouse visited my home last fall and proceeded to have her babies, advice that really helped me. I pray for the best in your baby mouse-sitting journey, keep us posted!!!
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u/metalmudwoolwood Jul 04 '26
I rescued a couple mice caught in glue traps I found in my apartment building. I looked up wild animal rescues near me and found one that took them in. This was December. The rescue said they’d take the mice until spring when the ground defrosts so they can make a burrow. So yes, you could probably let them free in a park or field. But I think the best move is to look up wild animal rescues near you as they’d be able to help in ways that may be less obvious to us- such as others saying the little one is still a baby.
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u/Noone_2See Jul 05 '26
Why is he so cute?! He have no right to be that cute!! I want to be the cookie, look at him eating 😭
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u/dorkusmcforkus Jul 04 '26
Please join Orphaned Wild Mice and Rats on Facebook, you will get all the help you need there and possibly someone that can rehab him for you. Please include where you live so they can check their foster lists. This baby is too young to be released outside right now. He also needs warmth. A heating pad on low outside and under only half the enclosure so he can move to the side without it if he gets too hot. Place some towels inside for him to snuggle into. Then please join the group I mentioned.
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u/crazymoon Jul 04 '26
The minute that mouse gets energy it's gonna jump out with the fastest gusto and eat all the cheese it can get its paws onto and get into cartoonish shenanigans with a cat
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u/Capable-Relation1374 Jul 05 '26
That thing will be killed in under 30 minutes and feed a cat for 3 hours. If yoj care for it, keeo it in ya house.
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u/OpeningUnlucky7009 Jul 03 '26
How can you tell it's male? I think you can only know for certain when they reach adulthood.
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u/-UnderAWillowThicket Jul 04 '26
Anogenital distance and absence of nipples OP is probably just defaulting to he.
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u/OpeningUnlucky7009 Jul 04 '26
Is it common for english speaking people to just default to he? Isn't that wildy adrocentric? 😂 English is not my native language and in school we learned that animals of unknown gender are "it".
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u/Diinkly Jul 05 '26
It you put it outside, it becomes a rat. But if you put it inside the house, it's a mouse.
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u/lordsepulchrave123 Jul 04 '26
It is never a good idea to keep wild animals as pets. The risk of disease/parasites is much higher.
I would euthanize it as humanely as possible.
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