Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

We have a problem with Deer mice in our office and the owner of the building has put poison traps everywhere. I have removed the traps in our office and use a catch and release trap instead now. So I found a little guy in our waste basket last week. Poor little thing couldn't get out cause the basket was too high. I knew it was going to be very cold that night (below zero), so I bought a little travel cage and brought him home. I was going to release him at my barn the next day, but now I'm not sure if I should. I'm pretty sure he's very young and I've been handling him without any problem. He doesn't try to bite at all and just walks around and hangs out in my hand. I need help because I don't know if I should let him go or buy a nice big tank and keep him. I don't want to deprive him of being outside, but I've read they only live around a year in the wild and do very well in captivity. Please help and give me some advise. I know I'd give him a good home if I keep him, I've had mice and rats before as pets and I adored them. Thanks!

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- Harley -

If he hasn't got any diseases and he isn't vicious then i'd be tempted to rescue him. If you got the space and resources then go for it. If it's a choice between being "pest controlled" or being house trained i know which one i'd rather have.

Thanks for the response. He isn't vicious at all, hasn't tried biting or anything mean. How would I know or tell if he has any diseases? I was going to take it to my vet, but I've worked for a vet for 3 years and I doubt there's much they could do to determine if he has anything. Either way...it's just a difficult decision but anytime I can rescue a critter in need I do So I think I'll buy a bigger tank and supplies for him and see if he seems comfortable in it. If not I'll think about letting him go at my barn I guess...

I'll also try getting a pic of him to post
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- Harley -

I'm no expert but look for constant scratching which indicates fleas,mites or skin conditions, coat should be in a relatively good condition although mineral deficiency or just being in the wild may dull it a little, eyes should be bright and breathing should be ok - mice are prone to respiratory diseases. If the mouse is on it's own and calm etc then its prob ok even if it has picked up something as mice diseases are unlikely to be passed on to humans. May want to get him checked out if u want to introduce him to other mice. Look out for weird behaviour, may indicate stress so just be nice and let him settle in. Diarrhoea is bad but may be because he's eaten too many green veg - keep him on dry food, plenty water, add some sugar and salt (tiny amounts) to water if its really bad to prevent loss of ions, vets should have some form of meds if need be, fleas can be treated with cat/dog flea powder, mites can be treated with an injection from vets. Thats about the extent of my knowledge so hope it helps.

Personally, I don't recommend trying to keep deer mice as pets. They are wild, they can and will bite even if they seem really tame now. They will have parasites on them which can easily infest your other mice and spread diseases that way as well.

Also, as your boss has been spreading poison around, it is possible the mouse your found is poisoned. It could be calm, slow moving etc, because it is slowly dying from poison. Poison is a very slow painful way to kill something. Kill traps are much more humane. (death is much faster in these things).

I had caught a deer mouse in a live trap before, (I actually thought it was one of my pet mice that must have escaped, as i was breeding mice at the time and noticed something chewed a whole through the corner of a large bag of dirty shavings i had in the basement. Assumed I must have dropped a mouse and didn't realize it (I had over a 100 babies of various ages, plus adults, very easy to assume I dropped a hopper or one jumped out during cleaning). I was rather surprised to find a deer mouse in the trap the next day.

However, was it was in that live trap for a good 12 hours, it was wet, (probably from combination of sweat and urine), dirty and looked half starved. I put it into a container with water and food and after a few days, released her back into the woods behind my apartment building.

I also kept her well away from my other mice to prevent any problems with my mouse colony.

If you do insist on keeping this deer mouse, take it to a vet in your area which deals with small mammals. At the very least he will be able to check for internal and external parasites.

I am not sure if a wild deer mouse will get along with domesticated mice. I don't think they will cross breed though..not the same species. (unless I am thinking of door mice...)
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PHLdyPayne