Raising an Orphaned Wild Mouse

By: Christine Lessard

(Last updated April 15, 2021) September 3rd 2023

Emergency Care Sheet

***Depending on your country, province, state etc, it may be illegal for

anyone to raise a baby mouse except for a licensed rehabber. Please check
your wildlife laws. ***
So you found a baby mouse or rat. What should you do? Their best chance of survival is
to be raised by their mother. If it is a safe area, leave the baby there to see if the mother
will come back. She may come and move them to a more secure area in a new nest. If
she hasn’t come back for them after a few hours, place them in a secure container and
keep them warm. In a pinch, you can take a something like a water bottle and fill it with
very warm water. Then put that bottle in a sock. Place it in the enclosure with the babies
to keep them warm. You can add some pieces of Kleenex over them to help with warmth
and to help them feel secure.

Next, search for a licensed wildlife rehabber. They are experienced with hand raising
various kinds of wildlife. They will have all the necessary supplies on hand and have
access to a veterinarian if needed. Google Wildlife Rehabilitation in your area to see if
there are any available.
You may have to drive quite a ways to get the baby there, but having an experienced
person who has all the supplies and experience needed is the baby's best chance at
survival.
Also, it is important to ask if the rehab facility rehabs for release. Some will use the mice
or rats to feed other animals they are rehabbing. If they don’t rehab and release, please
look for another rehabber.

The first 24 to 48 hours after a wild animal is found is the most critical. They usually
have been without food or water for a while and are confused and afraid.

All you need to do for them is warm them up. Do not try to feed them anything at this
point while looking for a rehabber.

Cold will kill first, dehydration second and starvation third.

If you have taken the mouse away from a cat, that mouse needs IMMEDIATE antibiotic
therapy administered by a veterinarian. Due to the bacteria in a cat’s mouth, any bite
wounds on a small animal can cause death by septicemia. Timely treatment is vital. A
wildlife rehabber should have the necessary antibiotics on hand.

If there are no rehabbers in your area, check with the local pet stores to
see if there is a nursing mouse mother available that can feed the baby. An experienced
mouse mother would be best. Sometimes first time mouse mothers are nervous and if
their nest is disturbed, they may eat their young.

If those options are not available and you chose to hand raise this baby, ask
yourself if you can commit to feeding it every 2 hours around the clock for 2 to 3
weeks. You cannot miss a feeding or delay the feedings. This may cost the baby its life.
You must also be a very patient person. After each time I do this, I ask people to remind
me to never do it again. Not because I don’t care for and love these little mice, it’s
because the exhaustion takes its toll on me.

There are an excellent series of YouTube Videos make by Creek Valley Critters. It is
very comprehensive and I have watched them over and over when raising baby mice. It
takes you from day one to weaning. These videos are made with pet mice (fancy mice)
but the feeding and care in the videos is great for wild mice also. I suggest you watch
these videos first then come back and read the rest of this information sheet.

Please note: Under each YouTube video, the creator has added extra notes indicating
changes to procedures. It is important that you read those notes, as some things in the
videos are outdated. If you are like me, watching the videos and getting a visual
understanding is a lot easier.

Depending what device you are using, there are different places to find the updated
information on each of the Creek Valley Critters videos.
 Creek Valley Critters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNX2byHbppM
The remainder are some notes from my personal experience with orphaned mice.

Supplies Needed
*Formula #1 Goats Milk Esbilac for puppies.
#2 Esbilac puppy milk replacer.
Try to buy one of these recommended milk replacer formulas;
 Goat’s Milk Esbilac for small animals
 Goat’s Milk Esbilac for Puppies
 Fox Valley Nutrition 20/50 ( www.foxvalleynutrition.com )

If those are not available, you may buy

 KMR (kitten meal replacement)
 Organic Goat’s Milk

Cow’s milk should never be fed to any young animal. They lack the enzymes to
digest it. It will cause bloat, diarrhea and death.

You may also see other groups recommending formula like human infant soy
formula. We do not recommend this. It’s fat content is not high enough and there are
many better options available.

I prefer the powdered formula because you can make the amount that you need per day.
Premade liquid formula has a shorter shelf life once opened. Whatever amount you
prepare, make sure that it is kept refrigerated so it does not spoil. Use whatever you have
made within 24 hours. Anything older than 24 hours should be thrown away.

*Electrolytes
(I use plain Pedialyte) - I always have this when caring for baby mice. You can lose a
mouse to dehydration very quickly.
*Feeding instrument
You may use an Artist's Paintbrush ( buy a good one from a craft store or painters store,
you don't want to buy a cheap one where bristles come loose). Your vet may have
syringes and a tiny adaptor that is available to put on the end of a 1 ml syringe that can
make the feeding end smaller. I prefer a syringe with the adaptor on the end as I can
gauge how much the mouse is eating; however that is only my personal preference. There
is also a product called Miracle Nipple. The same company that seels the Miracle Nipple
also offers a Mini Syringe feeding set. These are amazing products however it has to be
ordered online. You can order them from this company:
https://www.squirrelsandmore.com/

*Heat Source:
You can use a heating pad placed under the mouse's enclosure. Only put the heating pad
under half of the enclosure and on a low setting. I also put a towel between the heating
pad and the enclosure. The mouse can move around to a place where they are
comfortable. I prefer a regular water bottle filled with very warm water and placed in a
sock. The baby can snuggle against it or climb it for warmth.

*Qtips or Cotton Balls

for stimulating the baby to eliminate after feeding

*Alarm Clock - don't forget that these babies require feeding every 2 hours around
the clock. This is from the time you start, not the time you finish. For example, you start
feeding at 2am and finish feeding at 2:30, the next feeding starts at 4am.
 So I am going to raise an orphaned wild mouse. What do I need to know?

The first thing you should do is ensure the baby is warm. I like to find a secure enclosure
for the baby. I like to use a little travel carrier. You can use a small aquarium, a bin cage
or anything that provides enough ventilation but will keep the baby warm and safe. If you
have other animals in your home, please keep the baby away from them.
If you have a heating pad, place it under half of the enclosure on a low setting with a
towel in between the enclosure and the heating pad. Some heating pads only stay on for
20 minutes. This isn’t long enough. The baby has to be kept warm 24 hours a day. I like
to use an empty regular water bottle. I fill it up with very warm water, place it inside a
sock and then put it in the enclosure. The baby will warm up against it or move away as it
chooses. I can add warm water to it at each feeding, ensuring that there is always heat in
the enclosure. Some people like to use microwavable rice bags. Just make sure they are
not overheated. I also like to add shredded tissues for warmth.

Switching a baby from nursing from its mother and switching to being raised by a human
requires an adjustment period. Feedings can take very long in the beginning. If you wake
up at 2am for a feeding, warm the formula and finally get the baby to eat enough, it may
be 3am by the time you are done. You go back to bed for that one hour but can’t fall back
to sleep. Then the alarm goes off at 4am and you have to start all over again.

When I raised my first orphaned baby mouse, I thought that feeding every 2 hours would
be fairly easy and that I would just be tired. I found out that I don’t do well without
enough sleep. I became so tired, emotional and I just couldn’t seem to do anything else
but care for this baby.

Hydration
Do not attempt to feed the baby formula until it has first been hydrated. The best product
to use is infant Pedialyte, unflavoured if possible. If you cannot get Pedialtye right away,
you may make a homemade solution until you can get to the store and purchase this
product.

Homemade rehydration fluid:

1 qt. Water, 1 tsp salt, 3 tsp sugar.

It is not a full electrolyte solution, but is better than nothing until you can buy Pedialtye.
How long to rehydrate depends on the amount of dehydration. To determine amount of
dehydration and how much fluid to give, do the following: Pinch up the skin along the
spine behind the shoulder blades then watch how the skin relaxes. If it returns fairly
quickly to flat, then the baby is only mildly dehydrated - If it returns slowly but
consistently to flat, then the baby is moderately dehydrated - If it stays in a peak, you
have a very dehydrated baby, a life threatening situation. Feed only Pedialyte every 20
minutes for 2 hours. Just a few drops at a time or as much as the baby wants until it is
rehydrated and producing lots of light yellow urine when you stimulate it.
Feeding Goats Milk Esbilac - 1 tsp formula, 2-3 tsp water, 1/4 tsp heavy whipping cream.
Esbilac - 1 tsp formula, 2-3 tsp water, 1/4 tsp heavy whipping cream.
The formula will have to be diluted to double the amount of water. For example, the
Esbilac Goat’s Milk calls for 1 scoop of powder to 2 scoops of water. That strength is too
thick for these babies. So you would do 1 scoop of powder to 4 scoops of water.
It is very important to mix the formula in advance. Mixing it and letting it sit in the
fridge for about 4 hours allows time for all the powder to dissolve completely and for all
the air bubbles to dissipate. Air bubbles may contribute to bloat so letting the formula sit
in the fridge after being mixed will help with this.

Is the baby warm? Cold babies cannot digest the formula. The baby can die from
feeding it cold. Babies should never be fed on their backs. It is best to have the baby
lying on its tummy or hold him at a 45 degree angle. Warm the formula by placing the
amount required for the feeding into a glass container. Place the glass container in a dish
of hot water. Allow the formula to heat this way without letting it get too hot. Always
test the temperature of the formula on the inside of your wrist before feeding the baby.
Too hot will burn the baby. If the formula is cold, the baby will not want to eat it and
will not be able to digest it properly. Never force the feeding. The baby is not suckling
on their own like they would be with their mother. Forcing can cause the baby to aspirate
the formula into their lungs. This will cause aspiration pneumonia and possibly death.

Pet stores often carry special feeding syringes with a fine, curved tip. You cannot feed
mice less than two weeks of age with an eye dropper. Their mouths are so small. I
recently bought a “Miracle Nipple”. I would say it works better for rats than it does for
mice. The nipple is too large for pinkies. It can be used for mice when they are close to 2
weeks old. ( www.squirrelsandmore.com ) Use a 1ml syringe with adaptor, an artist’s
paint brush or proper feeding instrument and very slowly – literally drop by drop – let the
milk drip on to baby’s lips. Allow baby to swallow each drop before giving another. I
used the little 1 ml syringes but always let them take only what they wanted at each
feeding, and then stop. With some younger babies, you can see a tiny white horizontal
line across their belly. This is called a Milk Band and means that the baby has formula in
its belly. As the mouse gets older and starts to get fur on its belly, you will not be able to
see this band any longer. That is why it is important to pay attention to the baby and the
signs it gives you when it has had enough. They may become very fussy and push the
feeding tool away or just refuse to eat any more . Please do not overfeed.

When using an artist’s paint brush, dip the brush into the formula and place it in front of
the baby’s mouth. Be careful not to touch the nose area. You don’t want the baby to
breathe it in. If it happens, quickly take a qtip and clean off the area. Let the baby suck
the formula off the brush. The brush does not hold much formula so you will have to do
this several times. Keep repeating until you see a milk band or until the baby shows signs
that it has had enough.
When using a syringe with a small tip, place the tip to the baby’s mouth on the side.
Release a tiny amount at a time, letting the baby takes the formula in at its own pace.
Never place the syringe right in the mouth. This will push the formula directly down its
throat and the baby may aspirate. You can tell when a baby rodent has aspirated if a fluid
bubble appears out of the nose while feeding. If this happens, immediately turn the baby
upside down to prevent any more fluid from draining into the lungs. If such a young
mouse has aspirated, it will be unlikely to survive without antibiotics from your vet . You
can prevent most cases of aspiration by holding the baby mouse properly while feeding. I
like to wrap a baby in a face cloth while feeding if the baby won’t eat on its belly and has
to be held on an angle. The formula is very sticky and the wet formula causes them to get
cold very quickly, then they cannot digest their formula.

When you are done feeding

Babies cannot eliminate (pee and poop) on their own. It is your job to help them do this.
You can take a Qtip or cotton ball and dip it in warm water. Some people like to start at
the baby’s armpits and rub in a downward motion to the mouse’s genitals. Repeating
until the baby eliminates. This can be abrasive using a qtip repeatedly. I like to take a
Qtip and dip it in warm water then take the Qtip and gently tap the genitals repeatedly
until the baby eliminates. Sometimes this can take a little while, don’t give up. After they
mouse has eliminated, ensure that you dry the area to prevent urine burns or infection.
The mother cleans the baby after each feeding, eating the poop to keep the nest clean.
You are lucky. You can use a Qtip or cotton ball. If the baby is not eliminating after
trying for a while, please check for dehydration as mentioned above or check the
enclosure to see if the baby has eliminated on it’s own If the baby is dehydrated, please
switch to Pedialyte as per the instructions above.

Now What?
All fed, baby eliminated, all dry after feeding? Now the mouse can go back to bed and so
can you.......until the next feeding!

Things to watch out for

Dehydration. This presents itself in a few different ways. The skin may look wrinkly. If
you can lift the skin a little and it doesn’t snap back, the baby is dehydrated. You may
also be able to see segments in the mouse’s tail. A tail should not be bumpy; it should be
round and plump.

Lethargy: Babies can very squirmy around feeding time. If you are waking up the baby
to feed and it just wants to sleep, check for a few things. Make sure that he is not
dehydrated. Are you feeding enough? Too much? Does the baby’s tummy look bloated or
extended? If you suspect bloat, action has to be taken immediately. Massage the baby’s
belly softly in a downward motion. For the next feeding or two, switch back to just
pedialyte.
 Bloat: When the baby is between 11 to 14 days old, bloat may happen. Bloat looks like
the baby has air in it’s belly. It may look ballooned or very round. Make sure you are
following the instructions above.

Diarrhea is a serious issue also. It can cause dehydration very quickly. Check to make
sure your formula is fresh. If you suspect dehydration, start again with a few feedings of
Pedialtye only.

Thank you to these resources as well. Stormhaven Garden-Wildlife Rehabilitation,

Creek Valley Critters, Bucky Goldstein’s GW Deer Mouse RanchWildlife In Ontario,
Deer Mice, http://wildliferehabilitators.org/rodents.html Squirreltales.org

Disclaimer: I am not a veterinarian, nor do I work in the medical field. All this
information was compiled by my own experiences owning and raising wild mice,
consulting with rehabbers, consulting with veterinarians and gathering information from
experienced wild mouse owners.