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Original poster

We've caught a mouse... It's adorable

100 replies

Beebityboo · 20/09/2020 07:55

We have finally caught the elusive mouse we've had in our kitchen. He's currently snacking away on a peanut in the humane tunnel trap we have.
What would be the best way and time to release him?
Or are we allowed to keep him?... Only half joking.

OP posts:

Thread gallery

BewareTheBeardedDragon · 20/09/2020 08:37

I had a mouse problem a couple of years ago - I had been digging at the end of my garden and was delighted to find a tiny very cute mouse amongst some tree roots. I was not so pleased to fine mouse activity a couple of weeks later and I caught two mice that looked exactly like my garden mouse and released each 5 miles from my house (which is apparently the magic number to prevent return). I bought one of the sonic repellers (chose one with lots of good reviews) and left the humane trap out and baited, but have never caught he another, nor seen any evidence of mice inside the house anymore.

At least if you release them they have half a chance, and if they're eaten by something else then that's the food chain.

But my mice were definitely the same as the garden mouse, so I'm not convinced by the 'house mouse won't survive outside' business. How did they survive before houses were a thing?

Purpledaisychain · 20/09/2020 08:38

Awww. They are very cute.

Make sure you don't release him too close to the house because he will just toddle back inside.

Original poster

Beebityboo · 20/09/2020 08:39

I might include a jumper just in case he gets cold

OP posts:

BewareTheBeardedDragon · 20/09/2020 08:39

Should say the mouse activity after the digging encounter was inside the kitchen

BunnyLovesBananas · 20/09/2020 08:40

I can understand why you wouldn't want to hurt the mouse

toomanypillows · 20/09/2020 08:43

Ooh this happened to us last year. I was equally charmed by the first... 4...

We think we caught the parents first because then they got smaller and smaller as we worked through them. After catching 11, we eventually found the nest - right in the back corner of our Welsh dresser.

We cleared it out and they scarpered but the next morning we had 2 in the humane trap. Every morning after that, there was another one - for another 8 mornings. 21 mice in total.

I took a photo of each of them so we could be sure it wasn't the same one constantly coming back 😂

We drove them to the same spot, 3 miles away each time and haven't had any since. We also found what we think was their front door and blocked it up but sort of expecting it all again as the weather gets colder.

Good luck.

SavoyCabbage · 20/09/2020 08:43

That PETA article seems to be saying that you should make sure any places they could get back in are sealed up then release the captured mice '100 yards' away and they will move in to your neighbours house.

whoami24601 · 20/09/2020 08:44

Aw we had a mouse in our old house. Only ever one. He used to come in during the winter and live like a king on the dog's biscuits 😁 I just made sure all the food was in sealed containers and left him to it 😳 sometimes I miss him 😔

Straven123 · 20/09/2020 08:44

Is it a grey house mouse or a brown field mouse, with big eyes and white belly? I don't find house mice very cute.

Veterinari · 20/09/2020 08:45

@BamboozledandBefuddled

We had a mouse a couple of years ago. I did the same as you, thought he was very sweet, carefully drove him to a small park in the early hours of the morning and wished him luck as I set him free.

About a week later I went to get a new ball of wool from my (extensive) stash. The spiteful, malicious, sodding bastard had trashed over £100 worth of wool I sincerely hope he died slowly and painfully. If I were you OP, I'd check the contents of every cupboard, drawer and container in the house before deciding what you think of him!

The fact that you blame an unwitting animal as 'spiteful and malicious' and wish him a slow painful death tells us exactly what kind of an unpleasant human you are.

It's perfectly reasonable to dislike mice, or to be upset at the damage they cause, But to wish suffering and torture on an animal is pretty low.

Purpledaisychain · 20/09/2020 08:46

You can't trust what PETA say. They are absolutely batshit at the best of times.

A house mouse can survive outside of their own area. In the wild, they'd have to travel when food got scarce. Nature is resilient. They can survive outside of houses as well.

shellby28 · 20/09/2020 08:47

Oh they are sweet! We've just caught 13 in our kitchen and no more since. DH also does a release a distance away but we always have a little chat with them first to make sure they're OK. Turns out having 2 house cats doesn't deter little mouse friends

Babyshine2020 · 20/09/2020 08:47

@Beebityboo

I might include a jumper just in case he gets cold

You'll get all his family back wanting their winter wardrobe too ;)

Ullupullu · 20/09/2020 08:48

I suspect your landlord will say it's your issue to resolve. What does your tenancy agreement say

YoureAllABunchOfBastards · 20/09/2020 08:49

@Sarahlou63

We've humanely trapped 10 mice in the last couple of weeks - my OP takes them to an abandoned cottage about 1km away with a supply of food and a water container #softy

I suspect you have trapped the same mice more than once...

Strugglingtodomybest · 20/09/2020 08:49

Ah OP, they are really cute aren't they? But yeah, we started with the humane trap and then DH resorted to drowning them otherwise they just came back. We have one of those sonic repellers now and haven't had a problem since.

ifiwasascent · 20/09/2020 08:50

I took our cute mouse to the park and told him that if he had any family in the house I'll put them in the same spot so to come back and check. My MIL then said that you should release the mouse at least 5 miles away otherwise they'll come back! 5 miles!!?

Serin · 20/09/2020 08:55

SerenityNowwwww
She cant make him a little jumper, he will have eaten all her wool wont he!

gamerchick · 20/09/2020 08:57

@Beebityboo

OK I'll release him. We rent so will need to call the landlord I guess. Can't release him too far away as we don't drive. I'll miss him, I've enjoyed our Sunday morning together

You're better off killing it quickly than making it starve to death in an unfamiliar place.

People always think they're being kind to spare a life in these cases.

Whiskyinajar · 20/09/2020 08:59

I am liking you more and more with every post OP. I'm as bad with this kind of thing.

Get a large plastic box
Fill with sawdust.
Provide water and food plus newspaper for him to chew up.

Give him a name.

heuchterteuchter · 20/09/2020 09:05

I humanely trapped and released mice I found in my old house. couldnt kill them!

just going to leave this here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4004049-orphaned-mouse-advice-please

Thefaceofboe · 20/09/2020 09:09

I feel you! I promise I didn’t keep him...

willowmelangell · 20/09/2020 09:13

Salmonella.
I contemplated keeping a mouse(cat present) Read about them. Rapidly lost interest at the risk of salmonella. Take that cute fella far, far away.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 20/09/2020 09:16

I think there’s something missing from your post!

AllWashedOut · 20/09/2020 09:18

Be careful when handling. My DD who'd grabbed out to pick one up and got nipped. Not badly. Mice and other rodents can spread disease that way.

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