Patrick the mouse, ~2 weeks old
Patrick was just a tiny 1 1/2 week old baby White Footed Mouse when he was found and came to Wild Things in April 2009. Where was he found? I managed to get away for a week to the Boston area before "the spring rush" of crazy animal baby time. When I arrived home, I head a squeaking when I opened my trunk, and there was the little guy under my suitcase. It is a complete mystery how he got there!
Below are pictures of him where I found him in the trunk, next to a walnut, and about a week later, perhaps 2-3 weeks old, wrapped in a little towel that I hold him in when giving him formula.
Below are pictures of him where I found him in the trunk, next to a walnut, and about a week later, perhaps 2-3 weeks old, wrapped in a little towel that I hold him in when giving him formula.
He grew well! As you can see below. The bottom pictures are of him at about 5 weeks old. See the walnut for scale!
A newborn 'pinky'
I really enjoyed rehabilitating mice. Some, like the one to the left are too small to keep alive. Well, maybe more talented rehabbers can do it. I seem to be able to keep them going for a few days, but ultimately they pass on.
However, I've had to stop accepting mice, or at least the kinds of mice that want to live in houses. Why? Well, a young volunteer managed to let a few go when
she was changing their cage last year, and now Wild Things has a serious mouse problem! (below picture shows a pile of nuts they found and stashed in a drawer in the wildlife rehab room!) I've been trying to catch and release them, but my old house seems a pretty easy place for them to find their way back into!
I believe in non-prejudiced wildlife rehab and that every animal deserves a chance, however I had to make this compromise at the request of the other people who share the house. My housemates already put up with a lot, so I guess it was a reasonable request. However, I am so happy to help other people rehab mice! This year I had quite a few mice finders successfully raise and release mice that they found. They brought them here for checkups and I was so happy that other people were willing to look after these cute little guys!
However, I've had to stop accepting mice, or at least the kinds of mice that want to live in houses. Why? Well, a young volunteer managed to let a few go when
she was changing their cage last year, and now Wild Things has a serious mouse problem! (below picture shows a pile of nuts they found and stashed in a drawer in the wildlife rehab room!) I've been trying to catch and release them, but my old house seems a pretty easy place for them to find their way back into!
I believe in non-prejudiced wildlife rehab and that every animal deserves a chance, however I had to make this compromise at the request of the other people who share the house. My housemates already put up with a lot, so I guess it was a reasonable request. However, I am so happy to help other people rehab mice! This year I had quite a few mice finders successfully raise and release mice that they found. They brought them here for checkups and I was so happy that other people were willing to look after these cute little guys!
A nutty stash!
