You should always release an adult mouse into the wild because it is possible to carry the deadly Hantaviruses along with fleas, ticks, and worms.It is cruel to keep an adult mouse because it will never lose its fear of humans.Raising a baby wild mouse by hand is the best way to take care of it on its own.If at all possible, you should keep it in captivity because it won't have basic survival skills as an adult.Hand-raised baby wild mice are more loyal to their human caregivers and are smarter than their domesticated counterparts.
Step 1: The foster mother needs to be removed from her nest.
If you have a domestic mouse with a small baby, you may be able to get the mother mouse to take care of the baby wild mouse.Put the mother mouse in a separate holding area so she can't see what you're doing.Hand-feeding a baby less than one and a half weeks old is riskier than fostering.About the time they open their eyes.
Step 2: The wild baby mouse has a scent.
Rub the baby mouse with the bedding from the mother mouse's cage.The baby mouse can be harmed by dirty bedding materials.
Step 3: The baby mouse should be with the other babies.
Place the baby wild mouse under the existing baby mice.Don't touch the babies too much, and be very gentle.
Step 4: The mouse should be returned to the cage.
The mother mouse should be away from the nest.Don't force her to join the group if she wants to find the babies on her own.
Step 5: Allow them to be alone.
Don't try to disturb the mice by hovering over the cage.The mother may abandon the babies if she becomes upset.The risk of the mother abandoning the new mice is very real.When you don't need to handle the baby mouse, leave the mother and babies alone.If something bad happens, there is no need to watch the cage.
Step 6: Feeding wild baby mice.
The mother won't have enough milk to feed all the baby mice.Put the mother in a separate tank when she is away from her nest.Feed the babies the same way you would feed a baby mouse.If the babies have a visible white band on their stomach, which is the actual milk in their tummy, they don't need your help getting enough milk from the mother.Babies should be checked several times a day during the first few days to make sure they don't lose weight.Babies need to be fed right away if they want to lose weight quickly.
Step 7: Purchase a foster mother from a store.
If you don't have a mother mouse, you may be able to buy one that has recently given birth.A foster mother is more likely to survive a very young baby mouse than you are.The risk that the mother will abandon her babies is something that should be considered before moving them.
Step 8: If the nest has been abandoned, make sure.
If you find a nest without a mother, you may have frightened her away or left to find food.If the mother doesn't return, leave it alone and check back later.Don't worry about this, try to handle them as little as possible.Unlike birds, mice don't reject their young just because they have human scent on them.If the babies do not have white bands on their bellies after 3-6 hours, this means they have not been fed.The mother may have died or abandoned the nest.
Step 9: Call a wildlife rehabilitator if you have any questions.
Call your local wildlife rehabilitation office if you find a baby mouse.The best chance for survival is to transfer the baby mouse to a wildlife professional.There are things you can do to keep the baby alive.If you can't find a rehabilitation office in your area, hand-feeding the baby is the next best thing.Ask the rehabilitator what they plan to do with the mice.They can either try to raise them or use them to feed other animals.If you don't want your baby mouse to end up as owl food, you'll need to care for them yourself.
Step 10: Take the cat victims to a vet.
If a mouse is attacked by a cat, the cat's mouth will most likely be colonized with a fatal disease called septicemia.The mouse is unlikely to survive if you take it to the vet.
Step 11: A baby should be comfortable.
The box should be lined with clean, soft rags.Remove any loose threads from the mouse's legs.After handling wild mice, wash your hands.Hantaviruses are very dangerous and can be carried by them.If the baby is able to survive the first few days, transfer it to a glass or plastic container that it can't chew through.
Step 12: Keep the mouse warm.
A baby mouse should be kept warm.Wrap a heating pad in a towel or rag after it's been turned to its lowest setting.Under the mouse, place the heating pad.Before pressing the heating pad against the mouse, make sure it isn't too hot by cooling it in the box for a minute.If you don't have a heating pad, you can fill a bottle or bag with rice.As the rice cools, you'll need to warm it up.A plastic bottle or thick zip-lock freezer bag would work well for reheated bottles.A healthy mouse will be able to keep its body temperature at about 2 and 12 weeks old if it is in a warm, indoor room.
Step 13: You should get a small feeding needle.
A small baby mouse can't be fed by an eye-dropper.You will need a small needle.Small, curved spouts are often found in pet stores for feeding baby rodents.
Step 14: The baby mouse should be hydrated.
If you don't know if the baby was with its mother less than an hour ago, you should stop feeding it formula.Feed 3 - 4 drops of Pedialyte directly into the baby's mouth.It's best to wait an hour before feeding formula.
Step 15: Determine the child's age.
You need to know the baby mouse's age in order to feed it correctly.You can match your mouse to the same size in the pictures if you consult a chart that shows photos of a baby mouse.The baby mice begin to grow fur around 3-6 days old.At about 10 days old, baby mice will open their eyes.After a baby mouse opens its eyes, it enters a stage.A healthy mouse will jump around a lot and will be hard to hold.
Step 16: Don't try to avoid aspiration.
Feeding or hydrating a baby wild mouse can lead to aspiration if the smallest amount of fluid gets into its lungs.If you see a bubble coming out of the baby's mouth, the mouse is likely to have aspirated.When feeding the baby, hold it upright and never rest it on its back.If you see a bubble, immediately flip the baby upside down to prevent more liquid from entering its lungs.A baby mouse is unlikely to survive aspiration.There is a chance that an older baby will survive if you turn it upside down.
Step 17: The baby's feedings are adjusted according to its age.
An abandoned mouse may be a little older than it looks because it is not getting enough food.The baby should be fed according to its age.If a mouse is to survive, it will need to be fed every day and night.Someone will have to stay up through the night to feed it.Feeding times can be reduced when the baby's eyes open around 2 weeks old.
Step 18: Feed the baby mouse according to its size.
Each time a baby mouse feeds, it should be fed about.05cc per gram of its own body weight.A 10 gram baby mouse should be taking in half a liter of milk every time it feeds.A feeding needle should show the measurement.Feed your baby kitten formula.The baby mice can't digest the thicker formula.If you hold the baby upright, it will not get formula in its lungs.The baby's head and back feet are at the bottom of the middle portion.Depending on the size of the mouse and the hand, the front feet will be inside.The kitten formula should be put into the baby mouse's mouth.Milk in the baby's nose will cause the mouse to suffocate.Q-Tip can be used to keep the airways clear after each dose of milk.Increase the amount of food if the baby is losing weight.Feed the baby slowly.If the mouse is small, you can use a fine tip paintbrush.The brush should be put into the corner of the baby's mouth.
Step 19: Encourage the baby mouse to use the bathroom.
If you don't encourage baby mice to go, they will die from being backed up.After feeding, gently rub the baby mouse's belly and anus with a Q-Tip soaked in warm water.Don't rub too much on the baby's skin.If the baby mouse won't go to the bathroom after a while, let it rest.Try again half an hour later.
Step 20: Feed an older baby mouse.
Solid mouse food can be added to the baby's milk feedings once it has its eyes open.Continue to feed milk until the baby is 3 to 4 weeks old.Rat food, cooked rice, human baby food and kitten food are suitable hard foods.
Step 21: Older baby mice should get a water bottle.
An older baby can be given a bottle of water.The bottle should be hung on the side of the cage so that the mouse can reach it.It's okay if the mouse doesn't want to use the water bottle first.mice can easily drown if they are given water in a bowl.