Mouse guilt

[Purplepixii]

One Friday, 2 weeks ago, I went up the loft to put boxes away. While I was up there I could hear rustling and I said to my boyfriend that I "felt I wasn't alone". I didn't think too much of it - we often get birds nesting in the area between the gutter and the bricks (we have a wooden "box" thing that runs round the edge of the roof).

Anyway, I looked to my right and poking out of one of the boxes was the cutest little mousie face! I asked my bf what we should do, and at first we thought we would leave it be, but then we realised that there is no food in the loft and I couldn't face the thought of it going hungry. So we took the box outside.

We locked Gizmo (the mad cat) indoors and released the mouse - only to find another 3 in the same box! One was bigger and a slightly different colour to the others (we figure she was the "mum"). It was really cute to see them all run off through the long garden grass

I felt guilty for a while and I didn't want to post about this in case I got told that I'd basically sentenced them to death. Then I figured that there are lots of sheds near to where we released them - so I hoped they would find a new warm home.

When I got home from work today Gizmo had left me a "present" in the kitchen - a mouse! It reminded me of the ones we released and now I feel guilty again


Just so I know for the future - should I have released the mice from indoors or left them? Would it have been cruel to buy a cage in a pet shop and keep them that way?

Purplepixii

[thunder]

Quote
Just so I know for the future - should I have released the mice from indoors or left them? Would it have been cruel to buy a cage in a pet shop and keep them that way?
Endquote

They won't take any harm outdoors.
If you'd left them, they might well have munched though anything you have in the loft, including electricity cables!
But they maight well have returned to the loft - they are excellent homers!
In a big cage, they'd have a longer and safer life than in the wild - but they'd probably breed and you end up with lots and lots and lot of mice. If you believe keeping small animals in cages is cruel, then it's cruel, but as I say, they would live longer ( and be safe from the mad cat!)

henrya

[Purplepixii]

Cheers henrya. I read that they can climb well and I saw one trying so I don't doubt they could "come home". Besides, I'd rather they were alive and free than dead from chewing the 'lecy wires!!

You're right though - caged they would be safe from Gizmo but I think that would be the last straw and he would disown me...

He already has a pond of fish & frogs that he can't reach, a bird table he can't reach and an indoor tropical aquarium full of pretty fish he can't eat (he sits on the sofa arm and watches them with fascination!) The poor furrball would think I was winding him up if I kept mice too lol

[paulchandler6]

Hi, I think you did the right think, I would have done the same. Cheers

[wildone]

If you want to be sure they will not return to the loft or anywhere else they have set up home, then release them at least 1 mile, as the crow flies, away. Apparently they can return from any lesser distance.

wildone

[Purplepixii]

Originally Posted by wildone

If you want to be sure they will not return to the loft or anywhere else they have set up home, then release them at least 1 mile, as the crow flies, away. Apparently they can return from any lesser distance.

wildone

You know, I wouldn't be heartbroken if they did return - they were soooooo cute!

Although I don't fancy them frying themselves on the wiring...

[Garden Carpet]

Mice are gorgeous.. as long as they dont find a way from your loft to your kitchen where they will walk all over the worktops leaving droppings and urine everywhere they go. All your food will have to be in mouseproof containers and they can get through the smallest gaps.

When my new bedroom was constructed in the garage I invaded their space.. and boy did they let me know.. they ran all over my bedroom.. all over my clothes.. every single item of which had to be washed or cleaned.

Lovely though they are the can very soon grow to be a problem .. and if you dont want Gizmo (my chihuahua is gizmo) to present you with gifts on a regular basis dont encourage the meece!

Best of luck

jaki

[Meles meles]

Originally Posted by wildone

If you want to be sure they will not return to the loft or anywhere else they have set up home, then release them at least 1 mile, as the crow flies, away. Apparently they can return from any lesser distance.

wildone

I heard they had a memory good enough to remember a good mile and a half??
wildone you may correct me but it would be interesting to know for sure??

[Purplepixii]

Hmm I feel an update is appropriate.

Yesterday I decided to get into the festive spirit and bought a xmas tree. When I got home I went up the loft and got the xmas decorations box down.

I opened it up to find that a vast percentage of the protective wrappings had been shredded and it appeared (and smelled) like the mice had turned this box into their "toilet"!! (stop giggling Cazzie )

Luckily my xmas decorations are ok, the box (and it's "contents") are now in the bin.

My problem is this: whilst trying to get to sleep last night I could hear the pitter patter of tiny feet - I think I still have mice! I don't have the heart to catch them and put them outside in this weather - am I mad to wait until spring comes and it's a bit warmer? Personally I'd love to catch them and keep them as pets but I don't think Mr Gizmo (my cat) would be amused

Purplepixii

[hannahpanda]

If you leave them they could chew through wires and cause all sorts of problems, i'd feel awful releasing them into the cold but it could end up costing you a fortune if you dont!