he won't get the job done but you'll get plenty of laughs

I'm guessing that's how OP knew that it was a live mouse.

Yup. It launched itself over the top of my sofa and was gone in a flash. I caught it in a humane trap about an hour later, and put it outside.

If you released it *just* outside, like right outside your door, I can guarantee that it is already back inside your house. It was inside for a reason, either to nest or for food, and it already knows how to get inside.

No, I brought it to a bike path nearby, and released it there.

Yea, probably a crunching noise. Similar to a phone screen cracking.....or bones breaking.

Nope. I was totally taken by surprise.

Yes, I caught it eventually and put it outside.