Posted: March 13, 2011, 5 a.m. EDT
Q: Do you have any information about controlling baby mice? I just got three mice, and they are heck to take care of — they run around, they chew everything and pee on my friends. I'm at my breaking point. What can I do?
A: It sounds like your baby mice are doing exactly what all baby mice do. Mice are naturally very active animals that run around, chew everything and pee on their people (it's a territorial thing).
Unfortunately, there isn't any way to control these natural behaviors, but most people who have mice as pets enjoy interacting with and watching the antics of these very busy little creatures.
Mice will mellow somewhat as they get older and become accustomed to you, but a lot of what you are experiencing will always be there.
If you are looking for a calmer pet that enjoys being handled a lot, you might want to consider a pet rat, but research pet rats carefully to make sure it suits your expectations for a pet. It's very important that you choose the right pet, rather than expecting the pet to change its natural behavior to fit your expectations.
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