I have a dilemma. I saw a mouse in my home yesterday and I'm afraid of mice to say the least. My question is 'Am I allowed to bait poison to get rid of this mouse'? I just bought some today as I know that mice can multiply quite quickly but I'm feeling terribly guilty. I don't want to kill it but I don't want to live with it either. Could you please help me. What would God want me to do?

I am sorry that you are having to deal with a mouse in the house. I am sure that your feelings about killing are shared by many. I showed your letter to my wife and she reminded me of a time when she had a mouse cornered with a broom but could not bring herself to strike the shivering mouse with her "weapon." However, I want to assure you that it is alright to kill it in order to keep your house free of rodents. Let's consider our treatment of animals as taught in scripture.

First, the Bible teaches that righteous people treat animals kindly. Proverbs 12:10A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
See All... states, "A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel." This refers specifically to domesticated animals like farm animals and pets. A righteous man will regard the life of the animal while a wicked man will delight in cruelty.

On the other hand, the Lord allows the killing of animals for a couple of reasons. Animals may be hunted and killed for food (Genesis 27:5And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.
See All...; Proverbs 12:27The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.
See All...). In addition, dangerous or harmful animals can also be hunted and killed. Ezekiel 19:1-8 [1] Moreover take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel, [2] And say, What is thy mother? A lioness: she lay down among lions, she nourished her whelps among young lions. [3] And she brought up one of her whelps: it became a young lion, and it learned to catch the prey; it devoured men. [4] The nations also heard of him; he was taken in their pit, and they brought him with chains unto the land of Egypt. [5] Now when she saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost, then she took another of her whelps, and made him a young lion. [6] And he went up and down among the lions, he became a young lion, and learned to catch the prey, and devoured men. [7] And he knew their desolate palaces, and he laid waste their cities; and the land was desolate, and the fulness thereof, by the noise of his roaring. [8] Then the nations set against him on every side from the provinces, and spread their net over him: he was taken in their pit.
See All... uses the capture of a dangerous lion as an illustration. I am sure that Solomon approved the extermination of the "little foxes, that spoil the vines" (Song of Solomon 2:15Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
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At the time of the creation of man, God blessed him and gave him "dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth" (Genesis 1:28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
See All...). This authority is also a responsibility. We are to sensibly care for that part of creation that is under us, but we also have the right to make life and death decisions for that creation.

Now consider your mouse. It may not threaten your life in an external way. However, mice do bring diseases with them and they destroy property. You are allowed by God to kill it--not for the pleasure of killing--but for the protection of your household. Go ahead and use the poison. God makes a great distinction between the life of a man and the life of a beast (Matthew 6:26Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
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One final comment. Some might think me too soft because I recognize the good of having feelings for the animals. However, I think this is taught in scripture (Proverbs 12:10A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
See All...) and fear that we sometimes oppose something because those who deny the Bible believe it. As with all things, the Bible must be our authority for truth. God's creation is to be respected, not because it is our mother or our god, but because it is our responsibility and we are to be good stewards of this responsibility. May the Lord richly bless you and rid your home of mice.