Briggs & Stratton 6.75 EZ-start mower - trouble starting?

Mower won't start without several minutes of attempts. Had taken the thing apart to find that a mouse had crawled up behind the gas tank and died ... wrapped around the thin metal arm attached to the valve on the side of the carb that faces the engine. Took the carb off and cleaned it out ... pretty clean. Didn't appear to need any parts replaced (simple carb - no choke/no primer) ... all of the openings seemed clear and could pass air through them. Fuel system clean and wide open.

With the mouse wrapped around that arm, that valve was pretty much stuck in one position. I'm assuming that valve has to fluctuate? What kind of damage could have been done running like that? Tried tracing that arm the mouse was wrapped around, but it was getting dark. Appeared that arm went down the side of the engine the carb was on toward the back, where it was attached to another arm, making a 90 degree turn and running along the back end of the engine. I'm assuming that since the mouse impaired its movement, that it no longer moves the way it should.

Some insight and guidance would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks