FAQs for Parents

FAQs for Parents

Last updated: 6th October 2026

1. Applications & Eligibility

How do we apply?

Via the Apply Now page on this website.

When can we apply?

Applications open on 7th October 2026. The deadline to apply is 1st December 2026, but applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and successful Wild Kids may be selected and announced throughout the application period. This means that places may be filled before the deadline, so we encourage families to apply early.

I have a question about the application

Please email lauren@wild-pets.org. We aim to respond within 1–2 working days.

Can siblings take part together?

Absolutely! Apply on behalf of one child aged 8–13 and mention any siblings who would also like to help on your application form.

Does my child need experience looking after animals?

Not necessarily! All participants will receive specialist training. However, previous experience caring for animals may be considered during selection.

We don’t live in Devon, but really want to take part - can we apply?

Sorry, no. We are limiting year 1 to Devon for practical reasons, so the mice don’t have to travel too far. We are also a new organisation with very limited funds. However, if year 1 is a success, we aim to expand to further regions in year 2.

When will we hear back?

Shortlisted children and their parent/guardian will be invited for a Zoom chat to discuss the project with the Wild Pets team. Any questions you may have can be answered during this conversation. Following the chat, if you decide the project is not for you, you may of course drop out.If your child is offered a place on the Wild Pets programme, you will be sent the full Parent/Guardian Agreement to read and sign before the place is confirmed. You are under no obligation to sign, and if you decide not to proceed, the place will be offered to another child on our waiting list. At this stage, we will ask you to confirm your child’s age with their passport or birth certificate and also provide proof that you live in Devon.

Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by email as soon as possible.

How does the waiting list work?

We will maintain a waiting list of five children, in case any children are unable to complete their training or have to drop out during the programme.

What legislation covers the breeding of harvest mice with Wild Pets?

Although protected under schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, harvest mice do not appear in Schedule 9 of the Act and therefore this species can be reintroduced from captive bred stocks without licence.

If my child doesn’t get selected, can we breed harvest mice on our own?

Definitely not. No animals should be bred for release into the wild without proper training and without the guidance of professional ecologists and animal husbandry experts.

2. Costs, Timings & Commitment

How much does it cost?

The mice, their equipment and their food will be provided free of charge and each child will also receive a Wild Pets T-shirt. You may choose to buy additional houses and suitable enrichment for your mice, at your own cost. Travel & (human!) food for the training day and the release day are at your cost.

At the end of the project, all mice and equipment supplied by Wild Pets will be returned to our team, but your child will keep their T-shirt and any extra equipment you may have chosen to buy.

How does the crowdfunding work?

Fundraising is a vital part of conservation work, and we will help all the Wild Kids learn this valuable skill.

All selected children will participate in the crowdfunding effort. Each Wild Kid will have a mini Crowdfunder in their name, managed by their parent or legal guardian, as part of our main Crowdfunder.

They will aim to raise at least £100 through activities such as a cake sale, a sponsored activity or simply asking for donations from friends and relatives. This is a target, not a requirement, and no child will lose their place if they raise less.

The money raised will go towards the cost of their mice's food and equipment (approximately £250 per child), with any additional funds going into the general Wild Pets pot.

The three children who raise the most money will win exciting prizes.

When does the project take place?

• 7th October → 1st December 2026: Applications open. Some Wild Kid places will be announced during this time
• 10th December 2026: All 20 Wild Kids places confirmed
• January → March 2027: Crowdfunding period. Each child participates in fundraising activities, aiming to raise at least £100
• Saturday 20th March 2027: Mandatory training day for all children, with a parent/guardian at Derek Gow’s Species Recovery Centre in Lifton, Devon. All participants will learn how to care for their mice and, at the end of the day, receive their breeding pairs, equipment and mouse food to take home.
• April → September 2027: Families care for their mice and hopefully have lots of babies. Once weaned, the babies will be picked up by the Wild Pets team to be housed at the Species Recovery Centre. So each Wild Kid will only ever have their original male and female plus one litter at any one time.
• September 2027 (date & location TBC): All the mice (original breeding pairs + offspring) will be released at a suitable site in Devon, with participating families invited to attend if the location allows. Hopefully this will be a high profile and celebratory event! All equipment supplied by us will be returned to the Wild Pets team and that is the end of the family’s commitment.

What if we can't attend the training day on 20th March?

Attendance is mandatory as this is when children and their parents will receive essential animal care training and collect their breeding pairs. If you can’t come, please don’t apply.

Can we go on holiday during the project?

Yes. Families can take up to two weeks' holiday during the time the mice are with you - we just need at least two weeks’ notice, so we can come and collect the mice and look after them while you’re away. If your child is selected, the full Parent/Guardian Agreement will provide further details about holiday arrangements.

What if we need to withdraw from the project?

We understand that unexpected circumstances arise. Please notify us as soon as possible so we can arrange alternative care for the mice and potentially offer your place to a child on our waiting list.

Will my child get paid for participating in the project?

No. Participation in Wild Pets is voluntary and there is no payment for taking part. The programme is designed to give young people hands-on conservation experience, practical skills and the opportunity to contribute directly to native wildlife recovery.

3. Caring for Your Harvest Mice

How easy is it to care for harvest mice?

With the right training - which will be provided by the animal husbandry team from Derek Gow’s Species Recovery Centre on our mandatory training day - it is straightforward. You'll receive two tanks, food (seeds), a wheel (they love these), bedding and a trip-trap humane trap.

How much care do the mice need?

Mice must be checked and provided with fresh food and water at least once a day. Their tanks need to be spot cleaned daily and then thoroughly cleaned once a month, following our care guidelines.

Do they smell bad?

No. They will be eating a vegetarian diet of mixed seeds and, unlike dogs and cats, do not make stinky poos.

Will I be able to ask questions?

Yes, there will be a WhatsApp group for the parents of the Wild Kids and any questions will be answered quickly by our team. You will also be provided with an emergency phone number.

How does the breeding work?

Your breeding pair will initially live together, but the male will need to be separated and put into your 2nd tank when the female (hopefully) becomes pregnant. When she has her babies - anything from 2 to 12, but more likely 4-5 - they will stay with her for a few weeks and then we will collect them and care for them at the Species Recovery Centre. You will then put your male and female back together to hopefully have another litter. During the 4-5 months the mice are with you, they will hopefully have between 2 to 4 litters. Together, the 20 children will hopefully breed 250 mice.

How will I catch the male when I need to separate the male and female?

We will provide a humane trap (= a trip-trap) which you put into the tank and wait for the mouse to go in. If your female goes in first, you let her back into the first tank. If your male goes in, you can easily move him to the 2nd tank. You will be taught how to tell the male and female apart at the mandatory training day.

Can we pick them up and pet them?

No. The mice are not traditional pets and cannot be handled at all, for your safety and theirs. The only time you move them will be via the trip-traps, so you will never touch them. But they are still great wild pets, as they are extremely entertaining to watch as they love to climb and run on their wheel. Your child/ren can also have fun making houses out of cardboard boxes and tunnels out of cardboard tubes. We will advise on what vegetation can be given to enrich their tanks.

Can we participate if we have other pets?

Yes, but your harvest mice must be kept in a separate, secure room away from other pets to ensure their safety, prevent stress and prevent the possibility of disease transmission.

Which room should they live in?

We will advise each family individually, but they need a secure room, either inside your house or in a garage or outbuilding that isn’t too cold.

What happens if a mouse becomes ill or dies?

Unfortunately, illness and unexpected deaths can occur when caring for wildlife and your child needs to know this. If this happens, contact the Wild Pets team immediately. We'll provide guidance, arrange collection where necessary and discuss a possible replacement.

Can we name them?

Of course! Eva and Emily had a system where a 1st generation mouse would have a name beginning with A - Annie, Ali, Abigail, Arnold, Alfred etc - and then their babies would be Bs - Baxter, Betty, Beatrice etc etc. Eva and Emily got to the 5th generation - E names - but your child will only get to 2nd generation.

Your child can follow Eva and Emily’s naming or make their own one, as they like.

4. Release Day & After the Project

What happens at the end of the breeding season?

All the mice (adults and juveniles) will be released together at an appropriate site (TBC) in Devon. After this, all the equipment will be returned to Wild Pets and that is the end of your commitment.

Can our family attend the release?

We certainly hope so! Depending on the logistics of the site which is chosen, we hope to invite all the participating children and their families - plus the media - to the release day in September 2027. This should be a wonderful, celebratory day. The event won't be open to the general public, but everyone can follow along on our social media channels.

5. Media, Support & Safeguarding

Will my child be photographed or filmed?

Yes. Photography, filming and publicity are part of the Wild Pets programme as we are aiming to reach and inspire as many other families as possible.

By applying, parents and guardians acknowledge that consent for their child to be photographed, filmed or otherwise recorded, and for that material to be used in Wild Pets publicity, education, fundraising and communications, is a condition of participation.

This may include coverage by newspapers, television, online media and third-party documentary makers.

Further details will be provided in the full Parent/Guardian Agreement sent to families who are offered a place.

Can my child participate without appearing in the media or social media?

Wild Pets is a public-facing project designed to inspire other young conservationists. Participation requires consent for photography and filming. We are being contacted by lots of media organisations, so it may be that a documentary, a web series or other media will be created about Wild Pets. By applying for a place, you are agreeing that your child can participate. If you do not want your child to appear in the media in connection to Wild Pets, please don’t apply.

Who can we contact if we need help?

We'll have a dedicated WhatsApp group for participating parents, managed by the Wild Pets team. You'll be able to ask questions, receive guidance and connect with other families throughout the project. There will also be an emergency phone number.

My child requires additional support, can they still participate?

We warmly welcome participants from all backgrounds, cultures and abilities. A parent or legal guardian must accompany your child and be responsible for your child at the training day and at the release day. All other activities - ie caring for your mice - will take place at your own home.

If your child is selected, we will be in touch to discuss any specific accessibility requirements or accommodations your child may need.