Field Mouse Help needed

[SarahJ]

Last night my cat bought in a field mouse which i lucky managed to get off him.
I put the mouse in a plastic tank with seeds and water as well as a carboard box with bedding in for him.

Well the little guy made it through the night and didnt pass due to shock.
I gave him a check over this morning and it looks like one of his back legs in badly broken as it is dragging behide him.

The problem is now ... what do i do with the mouse?
I know if i release it back in to the wild it would not stand a chance with its leg.
Can i look after the mouse? and if so what type of food do i need to give etc.

[RKB]

You could keep it, easily, but would it be fair on it? It's not much of a life, kept in a small area.

I'd keep it for a week or two, and see if the leg improves. Feed it seeds, chunks of carrot, and a few mealworms if you have them. Give it somewhere to hide full of dry hay.

Are you sure it's a mouse and not a vole? Both can chew through metal, so you'll need to keep an eye on it. They are also expert climbers, and mice can jumpy about 2-3 ft up (well, if they have boht back legs they can...).

The alternative is to take it back to where it came from (or somewhere just as good) as soon as the snow has gone and let it go. It probably wont last very long, but at least it will be a natural and fairly quick death, and not a drawn-out one in captivity.