What to do with these wood mice?

Posy · #1 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 08:24 AM

Hi there, I'm new here so I hope this is the right place to post!

The night before last our cat caught a wood mouse. When we came to catch it so we could release it we found there were two of them, huddled in the corner of the hall.
Because it was gone midnight and it was just me and my daughter in the house, I didn't really know what to do with them. I thought if I put them outside the front door they would just be eaten by our very excited cat straight away. Also one had a rather nasty bite mark from the cat - we didn't think it would survive anyway so we thought we would just make it comfortable. So we put them for the night in our spare gerbil tank, with water and plenty of mouse food, and put them in a quiet bedroom, well away from the cat.

They are now eating happily, look alert and content,have burrowed a little nest for themselves and the one with the bite mark is amazingly, still alive. But I know they are wild animals, and however content they look, I know we should release them back into the wild this evening (I've heard dusk is the best time as they are nocturnal).

Does anyone have any idea where to release them? If we put them back in the garden I can guarantee you they will turn up dead on the patio within a day, courtesy of the cat, and I couldn't bear that. We live near fields so I thought the best thing would be to release them over there at dusk, near a hedgerow. But will they find their way to a community of mice like this as I've read they live in groups?

Does this sound like the best option to everyone? And how would you go about the actual release? We can't really carry a big glass tank down there but I don't want to subject them to stress.

Thnak you for any advice.

deer boy · #2 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 08:38 AM

Hi Posy welcome to WAB

i think thats the best idea if you put them in a small box or something similar then release them like you say into a hedge they'll find there own way then

Pippa · #3 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 09:33 AM

Sounds like they are warm ,comfortable and safe to me.

Welcome to WAB Posy

I agree with Deer Boy though a little box and as far away from your cat as possible.

Best to pop them deep in the hedge though where they will be warmer too, as they may have a hard time adjusting back to the cold.

Posy · #4 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 09:49 AM

Yes, the adjusting to the cold worried me too, although it's not too bad here today. I will get hubby to get right into the undergrowth!

Pippa · #5 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Posy

Yes, the adjusting to the cold worried me too, although it's not too bad here today. I will get hubby to get right into the undergrowth!

Excellent Posy

Hope its wound is healing nicely too.

Dogghound · #6 (**permalink**) 12-02-2009, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Posy

Yes, the adjusting to the cold worried me too, although it's not too bad here today. I will get hubby to get right into the undergrowth!

These animals are highly adaptable and should have no problems, it would be best if you released them in the day in cover so its a little warmer than at night giving them enough time to burrow or go into a tussock or log. Try not to release them in heavy snow.