Well, when you put it that way, I withdraw my idea of putting cats out there. It would hurt me to see them succumb to coyotes, rattlers and dehydration. I love my two cats very much. Still it was just an idea, brainstorming if you will, putting the idea out for discussion and debate.
Those mice are part of the ecosystem. They belong there. If they can get along with the cattle--and I can't think of a reason they should not--then there shouldn't be a problem. I think the corrupt Feds are just trying to use the mouse as an excuse to harass ranchers. They probably have a chart and a map---"Gee, we want to shut down Rancher Jones and take over his land. What endangered species live on his land that we could use to effect a takeover, to 'protect' the critter?" They are lower than the meanest rattler's belly!