Wild Mice Release Day

[Die Fledermaus]

I have had a number of agouti (wild) mice in here owing to the unexpected and still unexplained pregnancies of two lovely fancy mice. That story was posted; find it if you wish.

Mice were loose here; I kept the mice I caught in a tank that was getting too smelly. These mice are crazy wild and totally unhandleable. So, I did what I have done for many of their ancestors and relatives--took them to big wild Prospect Park in Brooklyn (a landmark) and released them in the most secluded overgrown place I could find near a stream. It's a nice location. Good luck, micies!

Hopefully this will be the last time I ever have to do this. I believe there are no more.

I caught them using a Havahart trap and glue boards that I kept near me--I quickly oiled the mice of and dropped them unharmed into a tank.

[hamgermourat]

did the wild mice get your fancy mice pregnant?

[Die Fledermaus]

I believe those fancy mice came pregnant from the breeder, who I had trusted.

The three girls were upon getting home were photographed and put in a My First Home cage, which they never could get out of.

I had never seen so much as a mouse poop for years and years around here, nor did I see one after the babies appeared, not until some of those crazy wild critters got loose.

The breeder claimed a wild mouse got in the cage, he being smaller than the girls, two of whom were pregannt, the third not. Go figure. the alleged guy mouse never showed up again.

Birth was 23 days after I got them. Mouse gestation is "19-21". After much research I am certain that is a general figure, not hard and fast, AND mice can store sperm for long periods, or delay pregnancies for many days or longer. I have seen too many examples of mice getting pregnant with no males around long past the presumed time frame.

So, I think they came pregnant. I can never prove. It was a big hassle. But I wish the breeder well; we all err.

[hamgermourat]

I f wild mice are THAT wild, how do you think they tamed the first fancy mice?

[Die Fledermaus]

Selective Genetics. Same with their coats and the wide variety of types and colors of fur. It is simply a matter of "breeding". This is easier with mice than dogs as the former have shorter lives.