Anyone know the answer to this?

[Vibrissa]

We cleaned out our outdoor shed this past weekend and threw alway all the trash that was in it.  There was an old U-haul blanket that was all full of holes, mouse poop and pee, so we know they have been living in the shed.  One of my friends, knowing how much I care about animals, said, "So, didn't you provide them an exercise wheel, too?" lol  However I got thinking about it and was wondering 'IF wild mice had an exercise wheel where they lived, would they use it to play?'  Anyone know the answer to this---is it an innate thing whether they are wild or domestic?  If no one knows, I am thinking about getting one with a motion activated camera and setting it up (with some kind of lighting--maybe solar through the wall or ceiling) to find out.  It would be a fun experiment--but much easier if any of you already know the answer to this.    Thanks, Sherry

[LastEchoes]

My guess is no. WIld mice do plenty of running around while searching for food. They have no need for wheel like domestic mice that have everything provided to them.

[Vibrissa]

Hmmmmm---very good point

[Topaz]

When I caught wild mice in the house I'd house them in a 20 long tank until release about 10 miles away from our house, in the woods.  While stuck in a tank, I gave them wheels and they used it constantly.  It was hilarious.  They would get so hyper on it that they were not able to stop it from spinning, and would hang on to it, going around and around. 

In one release, I actually had to pick up two males to get them off the wheel and onto the ground.  Either they were too scared to run, or they didn't want to leave the wheel behind.