Posted by Kelly Morrissey on September 18, 2007

Q: If I caught 2 mice in my house and released them in the park is that the correct thing to do.? Not sure if they came on from the outside or if they were born in my house. My boyfried is sceved about this and I need to try and stop them from coming in I have 4 cats and that didnt detour them from coming in. Last year I bought 2 humane mouse traps I love them They work awesome but I dont want to take them from my home and end up having them killed anyways...

Habitat: suburban/yard

State: New York

Habitat: suburban/yard

A: I certainly applaud your interest in removing the mice, releasing them unharmed. Unfortunately, this doesn't always have a "happy" ending. Any mouse, or other mammal for that matter, released into new territory is especially vulnerable to predation. Once released in new surroundings, the animal isn't familiar with where shelter is, where safe locations are, where water is to be found etc. and is much more likely to be captured while it is trying to get its bearings. Furthermore, once in new territory, it's likely that there are already other members of their species, mice in this case, that have already claimed this location and will attack the "immigrant". I fully realize that releasing captured animals even into appropriate habitat sounds like the well-meaning thing to do but it isn't that simple.

So what should people do? Good question and one I don't have a ready answer for. I personally have released animals in habitat away from my home because I just couldn't bear to harm the animal I had caught. Guess it's important to understand the issue and then make a decision based on that information. Sorry I can't help more but hope this helps you make your own decision whenever you have captured a nuisance animal. Make sure your home doesn't have any ways for mice to enter your house. If you can block any of these entrances, you'll reduce, if not eliminate, mice in the house. Thanks for writing.

John Wiessinger ( September 19, 2007)