How to Care for Baby Mice Found in the Wild

"I Found a Baby Mouse, What Should I Do?"

I once worked for a great company called Novedge that sells computer graphic and CAD software online. One day, my boss took our Italian intern and me to a secluded beach so that the intern could enjoy the Pacific Ocean, and so I could have a break from work.

We had a great time frolicking around and investigating the beach. There was a lot to see and do. There were old seashells to scrutinize—they were chiseled into the cliff in a cave—bristling cold water to run into and out of, the squawk of gulls overhead, the salty air and biting sand, and beautiful views of ocean and clouds and sun. The hours whiled away, and eventually, we left happy and exhausted.

Three Blind Mice

However, as we were leaving we noticed three blind mice sprawled helplessly on the sand. The gulls threatened. The cold air was rushing in. There was no nest in sight—no mother, no food. These little guys were helpless on a vast beach, weary and cold, blind and vulnerable.

If they did not become bird food, they would simply die from exposure. Where did they come from? The most we could tell was they might've fallen from holes in the cliff. A soft spot in my heart tugged.

"Let's go," said the others. They wanted to leave and thought getting involved with helping the mice wasn't worthy of much thought. I made a sudden and decisive decision. "I'm taking these guys home," I said.

That decision having been made, I fit all three little guys into my coat pocket. They were small, and their eyes were sealed shut. They were babies. My coworker and boss were surprised, to say the least, but they humored me. I had no idea what I was going to do or what I was getting myself into, but I committed. I wanted these little guys to have a better chance at life than certain destruction.

Researching Mouse Care

As soon as I got home, I did a Google cram session. What should I feed the mice? How should I care for them? Was this safe? I worried about Hantavirus. I was worried they would die. I did the research, and here is what I found out.

• Precautions
• Feeding
• Housing
• Toys
• Changes to Feeding as the Mice Age

Precautions You Should Take

The mice I would now care for were baby mice. They were days old, and their eyes had yet to open. The risk of Hantavirus, a very dangerous virus that could be caught from wild mice, was likely small because of my location, although I did not rule that out and took precautions by washing my hands after handling them and avoiding getting them near my face.

Feeding: What Do Baby Mice Eat?

The best thing to feed them at this early stage, I found out, is human baby soy formula. This formula is closest to the correct balance of protein and other nutrients that their bodies need.

From Eyedropper to Pipette

At first, I fed them using an eyedropper. The drops of formula were too big for their little mouths, and they would sneeze and cough when the liquid went down the wrong pipe. So I would dribble a little pool of formula on my hand, and they would lap it up. This was a little messy, but it worked.

I worried they were not getting enough formula this way. I invested in some pipettes, which are very small plastic tubes with bubbles at the end. You can draw up a little bit of liquid and then dribble it in tiny droplets. This worked a little better for getting the mice more quantity of formula, although I had to be very careful with one of them because even the tiny pipette tube was too big!

Feeding Schedule

That first night I had to wake up every two hours to feed the mice. Being very passionate about saving them, I didn't mind. It encouraged me that soon after they had the formula, they became much more active. At the first feedings, the way they went after the formula made me happy that I had rescued them, instead of leaving their survival to the harsh circumstances of the beach where I'd found them.

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For quite a few days I fed them every few hours. They got plumper and more active. They looked like healthy blind mice. Before I knew it, I was able to resume a regular sleep schedule. Overall, the time that the interruption in my sleep cycle lasted was so short, I hardly remember it now.

Housing: From Temporary Home to Habitat

When I first got the mice, I simply put them in a shoe box. It was all I could find. I included some tissue paper to keep them warm. I got all into taking care of them, though. That's my nature.

I went to the pet store and invested in a carrying cage for them that was clear plastic with ventilation on top. I soon invested in a 10-gallon mouse aquarium, which included a vented top and a water bottle. I bought soft hamster padding for them and some toys and a wooden bedding which acted as a little nest.

Beware of the Wrong Bedding: Dealing With Mice Mites

Later, I would learn not to purchase that type of wooden nest. There could be mice mites in the wood, and that's what happened. Luckily these mites do not transfer to humans, but they cause the mice hell. My mice hid from me and scratched so much their fur was missing in spots. I became very concerned and researched what I could do to help the mice.

I got rid of the wooden nest and instead bought a little plastic home for them. I treated them all every day with a mite killer that was made for dogs and cats until the mice stopped scratching themselves. I couldn't find a mite killer for rats or mice, but the dog/cat mite killer worked. I had to put a bit on my finger and rub it into their fur. I worried because they would start to lick it off, but it was the best I could do to kill those mites.

I also cleaned out their cage bedding regularly and disinfected their cage with a mixture of mostly water and bleach. Soon the mite problem was a thing of the past.

Toys: Wheels and Chew Blocks

Another thing I invested in were mouse wheels. The mice loved them. Wild mice run around 7 miles or so every day so not purchasing a little mouse wheel for them would have been a bit cruel in my mind. Since I had three mice, I bought two mouse wheels for them to share. I also put items for the mice to climb up in their cage and empty toilet paper rolls for the mice to crawl into and through.

Because mice need to chew to keep their teeth in good shape, I included little wood blocks that I purchased at the pet store. These might have been treated with something, I think, and didn't pose the threat of harboring any mice mites breeding in them. As the mice grew and were able to eat real food, I also included carrots in their food bowl so they could nibble on those too.

Changes to Feeding as the Mice Age

Once the mice's eyes opened and they were able to eat regular mouse food, I decided to go the healthy route with them. During the transition period, I made sure the human baby soy formula was also available to them, but I provided what became their regular diet. I fed them vegetables, fruits, seeds, and greens in a little bowl in their mouse aquarium.

I tried to keep their diet varied and included such things as (uncooked) kale, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, chickpeas, apples, corn, (raw uncooked) sweet potato, (cooked) brown rice, sunflower seeds, and a bird seed mix. There is rodent food you can purchase at pet stores, but I didn't bother as I'd read it's better for them to eat fresh real food. Since I am a vegan and eat a lot of fresh veggies, grains, and starches myself, it was easy for me to share my food with the mice.

What Happened as My Mice Grew Bigger

My mice were a pleasure to watch. I delighted in them. Let me tell you, if you haven't seen a baby mouse yawn, you haven't lived. I found them more entertaining than television. I enjoyed caring for them and learned as much as I could during my time with them.

However, even though I loved the mice I cared for, I am not sure I would call them ideal pets. For one thing, they require a lot of care, as I've described above. They are also small, so you must take a lot of precautions, or you may end up with a lost mouse in your house which could end up meaning a mouse problem! One or two mice in a cage are fine, but I'm sure you don't want your home run over with mice. That was the other problem which led to some changes in the little mice arrangement I had going.

The Mice Try to Breed

I had three blind baby mice to start with, and I named them Gray Guy, Thimble, and Minnette. Gray Guy was the "alpha" male—larger than Thimble (the other male) and of a gregarious, spirited nature. Thimble was slender and more of a regular mouse guy. Minnette was her own joyful personality, as feisty and strong-willed as a little female mouse is want to be. Yes, all three little mice had their own separate personalities, and that made caring for them an enjoyable experience.

However, there came the day—I knew it would happen—when the "birds and the bees" came to visit my mice. They were still so young, but I saw it happen—Gray Guy attempted to mount Minnette!

Oh dear. Taking care of three mice was an exhilarating experience, a labor of love. But there was no way I was going to take to care of more than three.

Why I Released Them Back Into the Wild

No sooner had I gotten used to the mice's nocturnal hours, running on their little wheels and gallivanting about their aquarium, and the endless cleaning regime, than I knew I had to do something quick before I ended up with a little pregnant Minnette mouse. I quickly purchased another whole mouse aquarium for Minnette alone, and separated her from the boy mice. I included all these attractive mice toys and tried to make the habitat as lovely for her as her first home.

But I quickly saw something was wrong. Minnette hated me. She hid in her little plastic home and actually hissed at me! She didn't like being alone. After some quick research, I realized the problem. Mice are social creatures and used to living with other mice. They develop little mice relationships that are just as dear to their little hearts as my friendships and loves are to me. Just as it would be cruel to force another person to live in isolation, it was cruel of me to put an end to Minnette's natural inclinations.