The Deed is Done - Mouse Exodus!

[Die Fledermaus]

You will recall my now deceased beautiful fancy mice, posted on this forum with photos. The story of how some were pregnant, and how I blamed the breeder and he denied it, has also been discussed here. Suffice it to say, their offspring were the crazy wild dominant agouti gene making them uncontrollable and extremly hyper. In due course several escaped, and I have been collecting "free range" mice ever since with Havahart traps and depositing them in tanks.

Today the weather was optimal, and Spring is here. Time to go.

I used some laundry bags, putting the tanks in and dumping the contents; I did this quickly and carefully so none got out. Then it was off on the subway to big Prospect Park while I hoped none suffocated inside and none chewed out. None did.

I quickly walked to the release point - a secluded, forested area with a lot of underbrush and even old leaves from last year. It is right near a small pond that is easily accessed for water. I assume now, in the dark, they are getting used to their new external habitat, and digging tunnels.

Tomorrow I expect I will do the same with a 20 gallon tank, which will be trickier to dump in the bag, so much so I may have to do it outside "just in case". And that will be that, other than cleaning the tanks for fancy mice and Spiny mice.

The bags do smell right now: I was unable to clean the tanks as the mice were totally wild and uncontrollable. Off to the wash! They will have to scrounge for their own food now, be it bugs, seeds, or the leftovers from the many people walking nearby on the paths. It surely is better for them than a dirty stinky crowded tank. But I had no choice. Anyone else would have killed them or released them in a backyard instead of a lovely area that looks ideal - densely green and with a little waterfall near where the brook flows.

So, that was the great mouse exodus today. I did something similar last September.

[Hamsters82]

That's good that they're out now. And that you didn't have trouble going there.

[Die Fledermaus]

Today I cleared out the big smelly 20 gallon tank. I dumped themn in the laundry bag in the basement but there were no escapes; it was difficult, though, and the tank bottom got broken. I will see if it can be repaired, later. The mice got dumped in an area about thirty yards from the others - secluded, wooded, quiet, near a nice pond and brook. I wish them well.

Now, I have to clean three very dirty tanks, and try to repair the 20 gallon.

[marianhaileymoss]

That's GREAT TOM! And good weather too! I bet you'll miss them. I couldn't find where to reply on the other topic of naming but I think Renard is a super name!

[Die Fledermaus]

Well, that bunch was kind of smelly as I could not clean their tanks and they were there for months. I would not release them in the cold Winter months. So I am kind of glad they are gone; it was beter for them too than those stinky tanks. But I do hope they are doing alright. I could think of no more optimum location anywhere in Brooklyn. I caught some more agoutis but I will wait until they fatten up a little before being released to another nice location in Prospect Park. I could not release them in Green-Wood Cemetery as the place is like a well trimmed botanic garden - no cover or undergrowth.