Rachel and her pet deer mouse Harriet live together in New York and have a very close bond. As a wildlife rehabilitator, Rachel gets to enjoy the company of many animals such as squirrels, chipmunks and mice.
Itâs always bittersweet releasing the animals back into the wild, because Rachel forms a relationship with each one. When she decided to rehabilitate Harriet, she thought the deer mouse would eventually want to return to her roots. However, it seemed Harriet wanted to stick around in her new, cozy home instead of roughing it in the wild.
âHarriet is a deer mouse, and she was found in somebodyâs house when she was about 8 days old. They didnât know what to do with her, so they brought her to an animal hospital. But the animal hospital didnât accept wild mice. So they called me because Iâm a wildlife rehabilitator and Iâve raised orphaned mice in the past,â Rachel explains.
Meet a Deer Mouse Named Harriet Who Loves to Snuggle
During colder months, deer mice like to build nests inside homes in rural or suburban areas. Theyâre especially attracted to homes in heavily wooded locations with protective vegetation and piles of firewood since these make great nesting sites. They may also build nests in warm barns, cabins, garages, attics, and other lightly trafficked areas.
Since deer mice are so small, they can hide out for a while before anyone notices their presence. Some people choose to call pest control to deal with them, but luckily, the person who found Harriet had a heart for animals. Even though they couldnât keep her, they still wanted to ensure her safety. Raising the deer mouse wasnât an easy task, however, since baby mice need a lot of food.
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âWhen I first got her she was very, very small. She weighed about as much as two pennies and she still had her eyes closed. I had to feed her with a tiny syringe every 3 hours around the clock, so it was a lot of work to raise little Harriet,â Rachel said.
Rachel wanted to release the deer mouse into the wild once it became strong enough. However, it seemed Harriet had other plans.
âAll of the other mice Iâve raised have eventually become wild and were able to be released, but Harriet has a very unique personality. Iâm usually able to pair up orphaned babies with others of their own species so they can interact. But unfortunately, there were no baby mice Harrietâs age so she became very attached to me,â Rachel says.
Harriet Has So Much Love to Give
Most people just see mice as pests, but they can make loving, sweet pets if youâre loyal to them. Mice are actually highly intelligent and can form bonds with humans, just like cats and dogs. Plus, itâs hard not to fall in love with this deer mouse after seeing its adorable face!
âShe loves to be held and snuggled, and she loves to get massages – sheâs pretty laid back for a mouse. Sheâll jump right in my hand when Iâm reaching to her cage, and sometimes she even makes a little purring noise to let me know that sheâs happy,â Rachel says.
Besides choosing domestic life over a natural existence in the wild, Harriet has another personality quirk. It seems sheâs a bit lazy, which certainly isnât the norm for a deer mouse! Perhaps she just doesnât like certain forms of exercise, though.
âMost mice love running on a wheel, but Harriet isnât a fan of exercise, she is more a fan of the dinner. Sheâs a little bit plump, but weâre working on that. Sheâll occasionally run on her wheel or on her exercise ball, but her favorite thing to do is actually play inside my hoodie,â Rachel explained.
The deer mouse also seems a bit picky about her diet, only enjoying the highest quality foods.
âI try to give her a balanced diet because she refuses to eat any type of commercial mouse food. She does eat berries and avocado; she really likes that and sheâll nibble on most vegetables. Her favorite thing of all is vanilla yogurt,â Rachel said.
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Rachelâs Advice for Anyone Who Wants a Deer Mouse
âI wish everyone can get to know more about these little creatures. They often have a bad reputation but each one has a unique personality. So, if you ever find a mouse in your house, just remember Harriet, and hopefully, it will motivate you to treat them with the kindness that they deserve.
âMice are relatively easy to care for as long as they have a cage thatâs kept clean and have enough toys to keep them busy. They are nocturnal, and they can be a bit difficult to handle, so I wouldnât recommend mice as a pet for young children. But if youâre content to just watch and be entertained by them, they can be better than TV,â Rachel said.
If youâre wanting to get a deer mouse, make sure youâre prepared to deal with a few noises in the night since thatâs when theyâre most active. Other than that, mice are relatively low-maintenance animals that just need clean living space, food, water, and loving home. Keep in mind that they can carry diseases, though, so it might be best to get a captive-bred pet mouse.
Final Thoughts on Harriet the Deer Mouse
If youâre a mouse lover, your heart will easily turn to mush just looking at Harriet. Not to mention, sheâs got a sweet personality to go along with that tiny frame. Even though you may not want a mouse as a pet, you can still appreciate them and treat them with kindness.
If you ever see one in or around your home, make sure to remove it humanely or call animal control. They will likely bring it to a pet shelter or animal hospital where theyâll attempt to find it a new home. Rachelâs story reminds us that any animal can offer love when we treat them with the respect and compassion they deserve.