Hammies are good burrowers. There aren’t a huge number of Syrian hamsters living in the wild today, but they are still there, along with their hamster cousins, who live in several locations across the world.To protect them from the heat, Syrian hamsters have very deep burrows; sometimes they burrow as far as far as ten metres. Sounds icky, but these little survivors make do with everything – even their own kind. Kaytee Clean & Cozy Bedding, White, 49.2 Liters (Pack of 1), Zhu Zhu Pets - Adventure Ball Accessory Hamster – Blue, Kaytee Comfort Wheel Large 8.5 Inches, Assorted colors. Despite the success of hamster domestication, there are still wild hammies in various countries and landscapes in continental Europe and Asia. Despite their wide coverage throughout continental Eurasia, there has been no confirmed trace of any common ancestor for these master burrowers. Only five of those species are domesticated and live as pets with us humans. In the wild, this means they get to run off and fend for themselves, although they can already explore outside their nest as early as after a week. Other hamster species sometimes offered as pets include Chinese dwarf hamsters and … To protect them from the heat, Syrian hamsters have very deep burrows; sometimes they burrow as far as far as ten metres. The Ladak is probably the highest-living hamster as it makes its home and hunts at altitudes of 4km (13,000 ft) near the Himalayas. They have also been kept in labs, but have not yet been domesticated. It happened in 1930 when a zoologist called Israel Aharoni travelled to Syria and found a Syrian, or Golden hamster, and her twelve babies.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'thehamsterhouse_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_7',160,'0','0'])); These days, anyone who knows anything about hamsters, knows that you never handle babies while they are still in their mother’s care. In fact, it is because they are so good at burrowing and borrowing (yes, they do “borrow” and take over other rodents’ homes) that we humans have yet to find the oldest burrow ever created by these little round critters. Some hamsters live in rough marshes, while some in steep slopes where piles of snow may cover a large portion of their climate. There are various predators in the wild – from owls to foxes to snakes. Romanian hamsters, which are found in grasslands, steppes, and bushy slopes of Romania, Bulgaria, and Northern Russia, are noted to have the most pointed face among the hamster species. They have different colors such as brown, grey, black, etc. Maybe a young, curious pet owner will someday figure out a way to harness the energy potential of hamster power , or find a way to save wild hamster species. They also have poor eyesight, which they make up for with a keen sense of smell. Currently being in school for my veterinary technology degree, I spend my leisure time with 3 critters that I own. Although mostly seasonal breeders except for the Robo hamsters, their gestation period average 16-23 days depending on the breed and they can get pregnant once more once they give birth. Hamsters also can run far in one night; usually about 5-6 miles (9km). Their ears are keen enough that they get to communicate in the ultrasonic range; yet as a consequence, they are susceptible to loud sounds and noise. Dwarf hamsters are native to the wilds of Mongolia. Hamsters have short lifespans, but this is made up for by their high fertility rate, short gestation period, expansive litters, and quick weaning. Excessive surprises, handling, and exposure to water (including swimming) will make them so stressed that they get sick and may even die. Chinese hamsters, meanwhile, are difficult to breed outside China that in laboratories, they have to be regularly replaced with wild versions. The truth is that hamsters originated in the wild, long before they were domesticated and became the fun little balls of fur we know and love today. However, the hamster is considered as one of the cutest animals which are kept as a pet in the houses. There are still discoveries to be made about even the most common creatures around us. Wild hamsters are found throughout much of Europe and Asia. It is for this reason mama hammies are highly cranky during this period and will get easily stressed if a male is about, to the point that they will deliver stillborns if the stress is prolonged. Yes there are wild hamsters, probably slightly larger than the types you see in stores. Hamsters are rodents belonging to the subfamily Cricetinae, which contains 19 species classified in seven genera. Hammies also dig burrows an average of 0.7m in depth – some even complex enough with multiple steep entrances that have sealable openings to protect them during the cold season, circuitous paths, blind ends to act as toilet and misdirection against enemies, and storage bins and sleeping quarters. Fortunately, European hamsters breed well in captivity, Rusin says: There are programs in Belgium, France, Poland, Germany, and Ukraine, among others. There are also foods which should never be given to hamsters as they can be toxic and extremely unhealthy for them. But this was a long time ago, and not much was known about hamsters.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'thehamsterhouse_com-leader-3','ezslot_11',161,'0','0'])); As soon as the mother and babies were disturbed the mother turned on one of the babies and killed it. When you look at your hamster scooting around in its ball, it may be hard to imagine that it could ever be related to a wild animal. There are more species in the wild and the biggest of hamsters – the European – grow to the average size of 12 inches, while some a whopping 13 inches. The Campbells (or Djungarian) hamsters are from Mongolia, where they live among semi-deserts and sand dunes. A lot of hamsters, however, prefer desert or semi-desert fringes, dry arid zones, and sparse rocky areas – habitats with extreme hot and cold temperatures. Hamsters are rodents with short tails, small ears, and stubby legs. Hamster Lifespan: How long do hamsters live? Dwarf hamsters, however, can live in colonies with their littermates, but they still antagonize those of the opposite sex and will fight those who do not belong to their group. They can even share burrows with other colonies like the Robos and the Campbell’s. Others, on the other hand, like the Djungarian dwarfs borrow pika homes; while others like the Campbell dwarfs, take over other rodents’ nests. As the babies that were bred from the original captured hamsters were sent off around the world, people started to see how easy they were to breed and keep, and the trend for keeping them as pets began. Some wild hamsters are exceptions to some of the descriptions mentioned above. The dwarf hamster lives up to its name. However expeditions in 1997 and 1999 found some wild Syrian hamsters. We share our collective knowledge and expertise, built over many years of caring for hamsters. The mother was then killed. Owing to their gentle but defensive nature, hammies are known to get easily startled and will even bite. French or European hamsters cannibalize their litter if. You will be amazed that there are still species of hamsters that live in the wild. Domesticated hammies may have more colors available since these can be manipulated through breeding. The wild hamster, like its domesticated cousins, has earthy colors of yellow, gray, black, white, brown, and combination of … The first 5 hamsters listed are hamsters that are commonly kept as pets. Only five species are common as pets. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. There are 26 different species of hamster living in the wild around the world, although not always in huge numbers.eval(ez_write_tag([[468,60],'thehamsterhouse_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_10',153,'0','0'])); The Syrian hamster, which is often referred to as a teddy bear hamster, is probably the one most of us are familiar with. If I tell you to imagine a hamster you would probably picture the furball in a cage, on a wheel. Of course, this means they don’t have the same protection as some other hamsters and for this reason Chinese hamsters are super quick runners! They get to live peacefully because they have variations in the type of food they eat. Wild Syrian hamsters are listed as “vulnerable” due to their reduced numbers. The gray dwarf hamster, which lives in grasslands, steppes, semi-deserts, cultivated areas, and gardens as well as buildings in many countries from the Middle East to Russia, does not hibernate. Are there wild hamsters that are of the same breed as our pets? It made the arid desert its home for centuries before being imported to the United States in 1936. The Chinese striped hamster is often confused with the Chinese dwarf hamster because of their names. Only five species are common as pets. Hamsters first became popular as house guests in the 1930s and 1940s, and their popularity has only grown since. It is native to grassland and similar habitats in a large part of Eurasia, extending from Belgium to the Altai mountains and Yenisey River in Russia. Moreover, they have cheek pockets that they can fill with snacks as they move along. There are a small number thought to be living wild and breeding in the Lake District, probably from escaped pets. Yes, hamsters still live in the wild, they can live their life according to the way they like to live. Last updated May 24, 2020 by The Hamster House Leave a Comment. You may wonder how these tiny bodies can manage running in dry lands like steppes and even mountainsides. Hamsters have scent glands located near their backs and legs. Hamsters are gentle as domestic pets. They have become established as popular small pets. They live in holes dug up to tens of meters deep. It is no wonder that your pet Fluffy which typically lives 2-4 years with us humans, have cousins that die too young – the wild hamsters that after all, just live only half their domestic cousin’s lifespans. They are equipped with sharp upper and lower incisors as well as pointed hands and feet that are good for digging, climbing, and grasping. The Syrian hamster, which is often referred to as a teddy bear hamster, is probably the one most of us are familiar with. This is an issue we’ve seen in dogs. The following 14 types of hamsters listed are mostly found in the wild and are almost never kept as pets. Each hamster has its own burrow and territory, and they get very angry if another hamster tries to take over their ground. They are easy to breed in captivity and have a cute size and personality making them popular pets. Hamsters are highly territorial and will fight to death for their habitat. Here are some interesting facts regarding species of hamsters that live in the wild: They can hibernate for 5-6 months but can even extend up to 10 months and their hibernation cycle is 2-7 days followed by 1-2 days of activity; although they can continuously sleep for as long as 30 days. Hamsters are also quick to get weaned. Dead hammies and stillborns are eaten by mama fluffies to keep predators from tracking the rest of the litter, burrow or colony. For one, hamsters are nocturnal (some start as early as dusk but they can go on for the whole night), so the sun does not dehydrate them. Although the temperature in their habitat can reach as high as 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, it drops dramatically at night, and these hardy creatures are well-covered with fur to protect them against the cold. They generally dislike swimming. European hamsters are so big that they can fight toe-to-toe with barn cats. There are few humans there, only nomadic sheep herders in summer. The Hamster House aims to be the number one guide for hamster enthusiasts. 19 were caught and now form the nucleus of a captive breeding programme in Germany. There are more than 20 different species of hamsters found living around the world throughout Asia and Europe. In the wild, they just go about their business – unless someone steps into their territory. Around the world, there are about 26 different species of wild hamsters that are spending their days away from captivity, and Bored Panda has compiled a list of them to show you that these little creatures are one of the cutest things you could meet outside and deserve more than to be hamster pets. Additionally, in the case of Russian or Robo hamsters, they are monogamous – whether as a pet or in the wild. Cannibalism is not only their means of getting additional food – they also use this to protect their litter. Wild versions of domesticated hamsters are no different from the homebody hammies in terms of appearance, except for the availability of some fur colors. Yes, wild hamsters are still found in China, Eastern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Siberia. But they look differently. Native hedgehogs in the wild are absent in Australia, South Asia, and there are not a single alive native species in South and North America though there used to be a long time ago. The white underbelly reflects ground temperature at night which makes them even more difficult to spot especially for animals with heat sensors like snakes. Unlike them, however, Fluffy’s wild cousins prefer protective coloration, which means that the more frequent colors are those that blend well within a particular locale. The European hamster (Cricetus cricetus), also known as the Eurasian hamster, black-bellied hamster or common hamster, is the only species of the genus Cricetus. In fact, they are the only hamster species that can tolerate water which is why they can live along riverbanks. [/heading] There aren’t a huge number of Syrian hamsters living in the wild today, but they are still there, along with their hamster cousins, who live in several locations across the world.To protect them from the heat, Syrian hamsters have very deep burrows; sometimes they burrow as … There are over 20 species of hamsters, which are related to voles, lemmings, and mice. There are also those that live near human settlements, often raiding farmlands, gardens, and even human buildings to the point that they are considered pests. Actually, 17% to 19 % of hamster’s diet should consist of … These shelters protect them from all the harsh weather in their environment since the ground stabilizes the surface temperature and cools it on a hot daytime. Yes there are wild hamsters, but all hamstrs in the US are captive bred. But there is still a lot we don’t know about hamsters, whether on the wheel or in the wild. Most hamsters in American and British pet stores are Syrian Hamsters. Rewilding hamsters. As drilling and hoarding are their main features, so deserts or warm sandy areas are the best options to depict the former abilities. Countries like Syria, Greece, Romania, Belgium, Northern China, Mongolia, France, and other parts of Europe from Belgium to Siberia are some areas where these little burrowers live. They're nocturnal, so they stay in their burrows during daylite. Except for the black-bellied European hamster, the rest of them tend to have white undersides aside from the earthy top colors that blend well in the night. The Ciscaucasian or Georgian hamster, which lives in the northern slopes and steppes of Caucasus and Ciscaucasia, are so destructive to pastures, farmlands, and tree belts that they are sometimes trapped by locals for their fur. Wild hamsters: Where do hamsters come from. Ever wonder why your hamster sometimes waves its hands in the air? In three weeks, a litter may already be separated from their mothers. Among the Order Rodentia, the hamsters are the most elusive in terms of pinpointing their ancestry. This misinformation is due to the Syrian hamsters’ popularity as a domesticated pet all throughout the world because they could easily adapt even in laboratories. It’s taken over a century from the first discovery of hamsters by the human race for them to become an integral part of our lives, but now it would probably be pretty hard for you to imagine living without your hamster companion. The European breed can grow as large as 13.4 inches (34 centimeters) long and are some of the biggest varieties of hamsters. Striped hamsters are dwarf types and live in colonies. There are at least seven genera of hamsters and of those seven, 20 types of hamsters that exist today in various parts of the world including Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The smallest, on the other hand, has a domestic cousin — the Roborovsky dwarf hamster which does not grow beyond 4 inches. They are also omnivores – meaning, they can eat both plant and animal material. Now that’s smart thinking!eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'thehamsterhouse_com-banner-1','ezslot_13',156,'0','0'])); Chinese hamsters live further to the east of their cousins, where the temperature is more consistently warm and the landscape is rocky. Filed Under: Hamsters in the wild Tagged With: types of hamster. There are various different sizes too. Two of the babies managed to escape and return to the wild, and another five escaped when they arrived at the Hebrew Hospital in Jerusalem. That is because it is sensing everything with its nose, touch, as well as its whiskers – which also add in its sense of touch. They are also used as lab animals for testing. In the wild they like to live in warm, dry areas, like sand dunes or the edge of deserts, which explains why the first hamsters were discovered in Syria. An example of these is the Winter White hamster. Normal adults are 5-7 inches long (13-18 cm) and weigh around 120-125 g. In the wild they live for 2-3 years, but as pets they can become up to 4 years old (when given a healthy and well-balanced diet). This means that even after bloody duels for territory, hammies get to pick their enemy’s bones and flesh. Between internships, volunteering, and paid jobs over the last 4 years, I have pretty much-gained experience with domesticated animals. The wild hamster, like its domesticated cousins, has earthy colors of yellow, gray, black, white, brown, and combination of these colors. Types of wild hamsters. Additionally, the Chinese hamsters were first used in the laboratory in 1919, but having it as a domesticated pet already started even before that. The most common pet hamster, the Syrian hamster, also known as the teddy bear hamster or golden hamster, usually grows to abo… The most prominent hamster species is the European one, which can grow up to 34 centimeters. first documented and domesticated hamster, Hamster Sleep: Everything You Need To Know, Gerbil vs Hamster – 4 Stunning Differences. The best-known species of hamster is the golden or Syrian hamster, which is the type most commonly kept as pets. The size difference is so big that Golden hamsters can weigh 6 ounces, whilst Winter White Dwarves weigh just 1.5 ounces. This is why Chinese hamsters tend to have short tails, as they use their tails to provide grip when they have to climb.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'thehamsterhouse_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_3',157,'0','0'])); Chinese hamsters don’t often live in burrows; they choose a hole that is located just under the ground. Yes there are wild hamsters. There are 19 officially recognized types of hamsters that are a part of 7 different genera. The wild Syrian hamster or golden hamster is the pet species we know today. > There are over 20 species of hamsters, which are related to voles, lemmings, and mice. They live in burrows, usually near cornfields. European hamsters have cheek pouches large enough to fill 20-30 grams of food and can be filled with air which makes them good swimmers. The Kam Dwarf Hamster, which is found in Western China grasslands, marshes, and steppes; as well as the Tibetan or Ladak dwarf, native to northern parts of Southen Asia, Southwestern China, Jammu, Kashmir, and Western Nepal; are both active day and night. Hamsters In the wild: Deserts are their homelands. Fortunately for these hardy rodents, they do have large livers which make them the hardcore drunken masters of the rodent world – the top of their list being the Syrian hammy. Hamsters can live for one and a half to three years. Wild hamsters are found throughout much of Europe and Asia. Their ham-fu does not limit to just long runs, burrowing, and food mastery — hamsters are also good in ninjutsu with their protective coloration. The tiny Robo hamster can even do better – it is known to be able to run about 105 miles (169 km) – that is 4 times the length a marathon runner would have to run! For other hamster breeds, there is not much difference in colors except for the availability of some hues. It is the one hamster that can survive in woodlands – its habitat includes coniferous and birch forests, steppes, shrublands, swampy grasslands, and meadows. Although hamsters do still live in the wild, there are many more living as pets across the world. The wild Syrian hamster is currently classified as endangered. Because hamsters store their food and may be gone in a while, they sometimes end up with rotten seeds, grains, or fruits. As domesticated pets, however, exposure to interior house lamps may prevent your WW Fluffy from turning white. The original color of Syrian hamsters was a mix of gold, brown and black, but nowadays they come in all sorts of patterns and color variations. In the worst case scenario – when there is barely any food, that is – hamsters get to eat their own poop. These tiny hamsters grow to around 2 to 4 inches (5.5 to 10.5 cm) long. When hamsters were first taken from the wild, they weren’t intended to be pets; they were taken to be studied in laboratories…. And did you know that the first documented and domesticated hamster is actually not the Syrian hamster (1839) but the Chinese hamster (1773)? Yes, hamsters live in the wild. The first capture of wild hamsters didn’t go entirely to plan. The most common pet species of hamsters is the Syrian hamster. The Syrian hamster was thought to be extinct in the wild as no sightings had been made of wild Syrian hamsters since the 1980’s. Dwarf hamsters qualify their names and can grow only up to 4inches. They also use these to defend themselves as well as for hunting. The hole is designed in such a way that it resembles a cave branching with various kinds of rooms that are made according to different needs, for example there are special holes for storing food, holes for removing waste, holes for sleeping, etc. Today, other breeds have joined the Syrian hamster in being domesticated, such as the popular Russian dwarf hamsters. Campbells hamsters often take over the burrows of other rodents, rather than having to do the hard work to create their own. There are 26 different species of hamster living in the wild around the world, although not always in huge numbers. They eat roots, seeds, grains, and fruits, as well as tiny animals like frogs, lizards, and various insects – and for the large hammies like the European hamster – baby ground-nesting birds. Since they're in the wild, they burrow underground in the dessert. The harder part, he says, is reintroducing hamsters that are not adapted to the wild and are easily snapped up by predators. There are 26 species of hamsters classified in 6 – 7 genera. Greater Long-tailed hamsters, also known as Korean hamsters, are the breed with the longest tail, notable loud screamers as they stand on their hind legs, and are known to be major pests in China since ancient times. Fur coloration aside, wild hamsters are very much like their domesticated cousins – they have big cheek pockets, small bodies, short tails (except for Greater long-tailed hamster, which has no domestic counterpart), tiny ears, and the distinctive top and bottom incisors that seem to grow endlessly that identify them as hamsters. In terms of pinpointing their ancestry only type of food and can be toxic and extremely for... Rather than having to do the hard work to create their own highly flexible, but have. 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