Chances of disturbed mice surviving?

vole-woman · #1 (**permalink**) 30-10-2011, 10:18 AM

Last week, the morning before we were due to go on holiday, my husband pulled up a board in the garden to check the pond pump and disturbed a mouse or vole nest containing naked babies. He called me because he didn't know what to do. When I saw the nest, I told him to put the board back and leave it. I thought that would give the mice/voles their best chance.

What do you think are the chances the mother came back? Obviously we don't want to pull the board up again to look. And did we do right?

Kayleigh · #2 (**permalink**) 30-10-2011, 10:21 AM

I would have done the same, I think the mother will go back when its all calm but I am not really sure..

vole-woman · #3 (**permalink**) 30-10-2011, 10:25 AM

Thanks. I felt very sorry about it.

Dogghound · #4 (**permalink**) 30-10-2011, 01:03 PM

There shouldnt be any problems as long as the nest wasnt badly damaged and you didnt touch them.

vole-woman · #5 (**permalink**) 30-10-2011, 02:59 PM

That's hopeful.

werdnal · #6 (**permalink**) 30-10-2011, 08:47 PM

Rodent mothers are usually very attentive, and if she felt they were in any danger, she would actually come back and re-locate them. It is not unusual for them to "move house" several times if necessary.

A few years ago, we had a woodmouse (probably brought in by one of our cats), who built a nest in insulation in the back of our cooker. I was blissfully unaware when I switched it on one day, only to hear frantic scrabbling about and on getting a torch to investigate, saw the mum pulling the naked babies out of the back of the cooker, which had obviously got too hot for them. We "rescued" the little ones and mum and put them in an old fish tank full of hay and took them to the peace and quiet of our shed. Had a peek a few hours later, and she had made a snug little nest in the hay, and dragged all the babies inside. The following day, we took the tank and placed it on its side, under our hedge and covered with some sacking. I checked about 2 weeks week later, and although everything inside was intact, suggesting nothing had otherwise disturbed them, she had gone, taking her little ones with her.

If they could survive that much turmoil, I am sure yours will be fine.