Small mammals such as rats and mice are often considered vermin. Not that we take any notice of that - a life is a life and all animals have an equal right to live free of pain and suffering as far as we're concerned. But you need to be aware that not all rescue organisations will be willing to treat these animals so it's best to check first so as to avoid the animal being euthanased unnecessarily.

When to help Small Mammals

	If the animal has been caught by a cat.
	It must receive antibiotic treatment within a few hours or the bacteria on the cats teeth may cause it to develop fatal septacaemia.
	If an adult can be easily approached
	These are naturally very wary animals so if it cannot or does not try to run away it's in trouble.
	An animal with an obvious injury
	An animal of any age with a visible wound or injury such as a damaged limb will need help.
	A lone baby out of its nest.
	Observe for a couple of hours to see if the parents pick it up but it's likely the baby is abandoned
	An apparently abandoned nest of babies.
	Mothers often spend time away from their young. Cover the nest and observe from a distance without touching the babies. Contact a wildlife rescue for advice if there is no sign of an adult after several hours.

What Should I Do Next?

Don't be fooled by the small stature of these little guys. Even a tiny mouse can give you a surprisingly painful bite. And you need to be aware that rats can carry Leptospirosis (Weil's Disease) which can be passed to a human through a bite. So you do need to handle with care, using gloves or a thick towel.

Place the animal in a secure box (bear in mind that they're good chewers so a cardboard box may not suffice) and keep it somewhere warm and quiet. You can offer some cereal or biscuit as a snack to keep him going. Seek help as quickly as you can.