I have always fed live mice and I always watch closely. The only time I step in is when the mouse might bite the snake or when the mouse gets too close to the snakes face without the snake striking. The last thing you want is the mouse to stress the snake out and cause him/her to go off eating. I never stun the mouse or anything, I just pre-scent for about an hr and then drop the mouse in, she usually takes the mouse with no problem. Just gotta make sure they go for the head of the mouse first, thats the dangerous end.