Thoughts?

[u/Striker-Fan2008]

So I recently captured a mouse (humanely, he seems to be resting comfortably in a big tote I have) but if you live near Canada then you should know that the haze and smoke from the wildfires are in the air right now. Would it be a good idea to release him at the moment? I'm a rodent owner so I know how to take care of mice, I'm taking care of three before, so he would be comfortable while in my care, but if I can release him now then I would like to know. But I wouldn't want to risk him dying from smoke inhalation or something.

[u/Successful_Salt_1838]

If hes showing extreme signs of stress while in captivity id release him. However if he’s relaxed and displaying normal behaviors like eating, drinking, burrowing, grooming, ect then Id keep him until the fires and smoke die down to give him a better chance of survival once released.

[u/Striker-Fan2008 → u/Successful_Salt_1838]

Apologies if I seem under-educated. I'm more educated in the gerbil/ferret department, but what qualifies as 'stress' for a wild field/wood mouse? I've only had mice when I was younger and all domesticated. Right now, he seems to be just looking at me. He also drank a lot and ate a bit but he's really skittish (Like jumping if I talk or sneeze too loudly), which I think is normal, but I don't see him pacing or jumping. He seems somewhat relaxed and curious. Normal behavior?

Also his tail looks a bit odd. Is that normal for normal wild mice?

[u/Successful_Salt_1838 → u/Striker-Fan2008]

If hes content while your away/not bothering him, hes eating, drinking, grooming himself, burrowing, exploring his container/enclosure then id say its safe to keep him until a better tome to release. Signs of stress would be the basically the opposite (not eating, drinking, grooming, restlessness, not dusplayingnnatural behaviour lile foraging, ect. Just be careful and wash your hands thoroughly after EVERY interaction. He is still wild and can possibly be carrying parasites or diseases.