Donna Wardrobe and one of the mice

A rehoming co-ordinator is appealing for homes for around 200 mice, whose numbers have doubled since the original 96 were discovered in a house in Telford six weeks ago after the owners moved.

It took a month for them all to be collected up and 50 of the chocolate-brown-and-white mice turned out to be pregnant females.

Add to that 30 brown-and-white mice found by the RSPCA dumped in plastic tanks in Telford Town Park three weeks ago, and the numbers spiral.

Now rehoming co-ordinator Donna Wardrobe, from Wrekin View Vets in Wellington, is appealing for homes for the little rodents.

Miss Wardrobe said: “We think the mice were probably from the same people because of their colourings. They don’t seem like they are used to being handled.

“Over the six weeks they have been multiplying. Altogether I have seven litters at my own home, which is about 70 babies and adults altogether. I managed to rehome about 36 at the beginning.

“Another foster home in Telford took six females which have produced about 47 babies.

“And another lady who is fostering for us took 10 mice. None of them appeared to be pregnant but three of them were and they too have produced babies.

“I couldn’t say how many there are altogether now but it’s probably about 200.”

Miss Wardrobe said the mice could reproduce from six-weeks-old, so all the foster carers were being vigilant and separating the babies at five weeks from their mothers to stop them having the chance to breed.

It is hoped as many as possible can be rehomed, but Miss Wardrobe stressed the accommodation for the mice would be vetted.

She said: “More people are offering homes to the females as the males tend to have more of a smell.

“We would only rehome single sex groups so they don’t breed. Mice get on very well in groups and they never fight.”

If anyone thinks they could provide a good home for any of the mice, they can call Miss Wardrobe on (01952) 256926.

By Catherine Roche