STRATHAM, N.H. — What do you call a massive group of a thousand mice at an animal shelter? According to Lisa Dennison, the executive director of the New Hampshire Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the situation can be described as “crippling.” The shelter is facing an overwhelming challenge due to a sudden surge in mice, which are rapidly multiplying.

The chaos began on Monday when an individual approached the shelter to surrender 150 containers that were filled with mice, rather than just 150 individual mice. On that initial visit, he brought in 73 mice. By the following Friday morning, the number had exploded as around 450 mice made their way into the shelter, with an additional 500 still expected. The numbers have the potential to increase even further, primarily because many of the mice were already pregnant upon arrival.

“The short gestation periods and early breeding start pose significant challenges,” Dennison explained. “It’s a substantial issue. This situation has escalated quickly and has gotten out of hand.” In order to manage the influx, a portion of the cat pavilion at the shelter has been repurposed into a makeshift hospital and holding area for the mice. The floor has been lined with numerous containers, and mice occupy tables and shelves throughout the space. Previously, the shelter had only taken in a maximum of 125 animals in a single day.

Dennison noted, “While we occasionally receive large numbers of animals, like when we took in 54 goats or 39 cats, those cases are still much more manageable compared to hundreds and hundreds of mice.” In an effort to alleviate the burden, some other shelters are stepping in to take care of a portion of the mice. Efforts to place them in foster homes are underway as well, and at least four mice found new homes on Friday.