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N.H. man surrenders possibly over 1,000 mice after becoming ‘overwhelmed’

The mice were living in cramped, "filthy," tubs, the New Hampshire Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said.

Four sub-adult white-footed mice in nest found in a plant pot. The NHSPCA said over 1000 mice may be stored in plastic tubs by the man who decided to surrender them. Marion Larson/Mass Wildlife

By Eva Levin

November 14, 2024

1 minute to read

A New Hampshire shelter is asking for help after a man surrendered plastic tubs full of mice on Monday.

The New Hampshire Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said the “overwhelmed” man came into the shelter on Monday. He said he had around 150 tanks with mice in them in his home.

The statement said he brought three large plastic tubs to the shelter that same day, which held a combined 73 mice. Shelter staff said they made house trips on Tuesday and Wednesday and took over 400 mice from the man. The statement said the mice were not separated by sex and were reproducing “uncontrolled.”

“By Tuesday morning, more mice had been born,” the statement said. “Our current estimate is that there are an approximate 400 still at the man’s home, but we may be looking at intaking as many as 1,000 mice in total.”

The shelter said they alerted all other shelters and humane societies in the New England area, asking for help transferring the mice out of the NHSPCA to make space for the rest of the mice still in the man’s home.

The mice were living in “filthy” tubs when they arrived at the shelter, the statement said. Now, the shelter said the mice are in clean spaces with access to food and water.

“We have never seen anything like this,” Savannah Alcero, Director of Animal and Veterinary Services at the shelter said. “And the longer we wait to get all of the mice out of their terrible living conditions, the greater the likelihood is that the numbers will continue to grow. With a gestation period of just around 20 days, mice can reproduce at an alarming rate.”

These mice are not wild, but rather bred to be pets, the shelter said. They are typically friendly, curious, highly social, and easy to care for, according to the statement.

The shelter said some mice will be available for adoption on Thursday, while other mice that are pregnant or need medical care will stay with the shelter for the time being.