Life of hamsters in the wild. Hamster mating period - photo of an ordinary hamster Can a field hamster live in a city

A small, fluffy cutie who lives in your home and pleases the whole family is a familiar image of an animal. But few people think about what it looks like, what it eats, and where a hamster lives in the wild. After all, for many centuries this animal existed next to humans, fleeing from predators, driving away uninvited guests from its territory and digging branched tunnels to store supplies, many of which were borrowed from our gardens.

In which zone does a hamster most often live?

Looking at the map, looking for the area where hamsters live, it turns out that it is easier to find a place where none of their species lives. Animals are most widespread in the middle part of Eurasia, but they “captured” central part America, Syria, Iran, the northern tip of China and the neighboring countries of Asia Minor, Siberia and many other territories, to the point that rodents are found on Galapagos Islands. The animal is unpretentious and lives in semi-deserts and steppes, forests and the lower part of mountains (up to a height of 3-4 km), fields and similar terrain.

The most common types of hamsters in nature

This family of rodents includes 19 species, which are divided into 7 genera. However, three are most widespread.

Common hamster

Despite the unpresentable name, these are real giants among hamsters living in nature. The size of an adult male reaches 35 cm in length, excluding the five-centimeter tail, and the weight of the hero ranges from 500-700 g. The bright, black-red color, shaded with light beige spots, allows him to remain invisible on the ground, merging with the surrounding vegetation. Big size corresponds to a rather warlike character; when encountering a “border violator” of its territory, the animal will attack him until he drives him away. Habitats are limited to the lower part of Russia, with the capture of China and countries Central Asia, as well as the eastern and central parts of Europe, to Belgium.

Syrian hamster

The body is medium-sized (13-18 cm), which ends in a tail one and a half centimeters long, colored golden or light brown on the back and white or beige on the belly. Their weight reaches 100-120 g, and their life expectancy is up to four years. In accordance with the name, hamsters of this breed are often found in Syria and some adjacent areas of Turkey.

Limited habitat, considerable number natural enemies, and a life expectancy in nature of 1-1.5 years led to the inclusion of the animal in the Red Book.

The Syrian breed has gained considerable popularity as a pet and has become the basis for selective breeding of short-haired and long-haired (Angora) varieties. In addition to the length of the fur, the variability of color has expanded. Now you can find:

• completely white;
• absolutely black;
• peach;
• spotted, combining the colors of the listed species.

Djungarian hamster

The second most widespread inhabitant of cages and aquariums. It belongs to the genus of hairy-footed animals and causes constant affection among others. Small body (10 cm), light weight (40-60 g) and almost invisible tail. Fur color varies depending on where you live and the season.

• Brownish-brown.
• Pale redhead.
• Light cream.
• Gray, with a bluish tint.

Additionally, on the sides the fur is colored with splashes of gray or brown, helping to blend into the landscape, which disappear into winter time, and the animal becomes almost white. The exception is distinguishing feature appearance - a dark stripe running along the back.

In nature Djungarian hamsters prefer to settle in dry steppes and semi-deserts, therefore they are firmly established in Western Siberia, southern regions Dzungarian Alatau and Khakassia.

Nutrition and lifestyle of a hamster in nature

The hamster is a solitary animal; with the exception of some species, the vast majority of rodents live independently and come together only during the mating season. They live in burrows that have an extensive system, several exits, separate “rooms” for storing supplies and a nest. Although some species build dwellings on the surface, using the branches of bushes, natural shelters near fallen trees or stones. Animals emerge from their shelters at dusk or early in the morning, preferring to sleep the rest of the time.

The food is varied. The basis of the diet consists of products that hamsters are able to obtain in the regions where they live. Usually this:

• Plant seeds and ripened grains.
• Young shoots of bushes.
• Vegetables, fruits and plant roots.
• Adult insects, larvae and worms.
• In some cases, they may feast on the remains of predators' meals or carrion.

Hymen-toed hamsters, inhabitants of near-water areas, eat mollusks and crustaceans.

The complex life of a hamster in nature

With the exception of small teeth and not scary claws, the animal has no real opportunity to harm its enemy. Therefore, hamsters live in the wild for an average of one and a half to two years. Their enemies are limited in number but deadly:

• Small and medium-sized terrestrial predators, from foxes and hungry wolves, to ferrets and weasels.
• Birds, including representatives of the hawk family, crows, herons and owls.
• Disease and physical damage from skirmishes with members of their own species.

However, strong paws, agility, reasonable caution, burrowing and thriftiness significantly improve the life of the animal.

Wild hamster in natural environment does not live as long as its domestic counterpart. This is due to more severe living conditions, which daily force these small animals to struggle with a number of negative external factors. They have many enemies: foxes, ferrets, kites, weasels. And this is not the entire list. And farmers have a negative attitude towards them, since with their raids in search of food they cause significant damage to agricultural land.

Description

Hamsters are mammals from the order Rodents and the Hamster family. There are about 19 species of wild hamsters, differing in appearance and size. The smallest representative has a body length that does not exceed 5 cm, and the largest - 35 cm.

The body is dense, the head is small, with a sharp muzzle and mustache. They have 16 teeth that do not stop growing throughout their lives. Therefore, they mercilessly grind them off on various hard objects.

Young animals have soft and silky fur, but with age it begins to coarse. Color may vary:

• sandy;
• creamy;
• brown;
• golden;
• gray;
• white.

Black hamsters are rare.

A characteristic feature of all species is the presence of capacious cheek pouches in which the animals hide food.

In wild hamsters, females look much more respectable than males. These rodents are excellent swimmers and divers.

Wild hamsters have a fairly extensive habitat, covering Central and Eastern Europe, including Russia, as well as Syria, South Korea, Iran, China and Mongolia, Siberia. Mostly animals live in steppes, forests, and deserts. Some species rise high into the mountains, up to 2.5 thousand meters above sea level. Rodents love to nest near human settlements.

The most common types of hamsters are shown in the table.

Name	Description and habitat	Photos of species representatives
Steppe or ordinary	The most aggressive representative, capable of attacking even larger animals and humans. They often attack their fellows in mating season to eliminate an opponent. Lead nightlife, and during the day they hide in underground passages, at a depth of up to 1.5 meters. In their lair they are able to collect quite substantial reserves of food, about 90 kg. This is quite understandable, since for the winter they settle in a hole without leaving. This hamster zealously protects his personal possessions from any encroachment from the outside. Females and males settle separately
Forest	Despite this name, these hamsters live not only in forests, but also in deserts and prairies. Often found near human habitation, in gardens and vegetable gardens. They do not have a single way of life: they live in pairs and alone, sleep and wake in different time. When near humans, hamsters prefer to sleep during the day and at night steal brush and build nests for themselves. They are usually located on trees. On winter period do not hibernate, but can become numb
Field	Found in Canada, Ecuador and Colombia. Mainly live in thickets tropical forests, beware of farmland. Sometimes found in swampy areas and prairies. They have an unusual multi-colored color. The tail is covered with small scales below and fluffy above. The body is from 5 to 20 cm long, depending on age
Dzungarian	The most studied species, which is most often subjected to domestication. Habitat: Middle and central Asia, Western Siberia, Kazakhstan. They were spotted in Altai. They prefer steppe and semi-desert areas. They are small in size: body length is about 10 cm. They are active at dusk and at night. They dig intricate labyrinthine holes with several entrances. They don’t sleep in winter, sometimes they jump outside to get food.
Syrian (golden)	It has a dense build, with a body length of up to 15 cm, a tail of 1.5-2 cm. It can be golden or light cream in color with a whitish belly. The weight of an adult reaches 130 grams. They live about 4 years. They live in Siberia and Turkey. Due to its limited range, the population is included in the Red Book

Lifestyle and nutrition

A characteristic feature of all hamsters is their solitary existence. Females and males live separately and only unite at the time of mating. Each has its own territory, which they jealously protect from the invasion of their own kind. Rodents dig holes for themselves in the form of long and intricate labyrinths underground, sometimes with a total length of up to three meters, and equip several spacious compartments there. They store food in them. This is how they prepare for non-stop living during the winter.

All hamsters are very thrifty and in the fall they fill their storage rooms with a fairly impressive amount of food (up to 90 kg). In Korea and China, poor people conduct a special search for hamster holes in order to collect grain for food.

The diet of hamsters includes both plant and animal foods., depends on the habitat. If there are grain fields nearby, then they will eat mainly grain.

Hamsters do not disdain insects and dead animals. If hamster settlements are located near summer cottages, then the menu is dominated by vegetables and other crops grown in gardens. They are just not suitable as winter stock, so hamsters have to periodically raid barns in search of grain. In a particularly hungry year, there are cases of rodent attacks on chickens.

Hamsters eat:

• berries;
• young shoots of trees;
• foliage and plant roots;
• fruits;
• seeds and grains;
• wheat, corn;
• potato tubers, carrots, cabbage, beets;
• legumes;
• insects: locusts, grasshoppers, moths, ants, caterpillars, earthworms.

The animals usually go out for prey at night. Taste preferences they may differ depending on the species and place of residence. Thus, dormouse hamsters love to eat avocados and bananas, and mouse-like hamsters love pistachios.

Membranaceae periodically feed on seafood:

• crayfish;
• shellfish;
• crabs;
• fish.

Many species, such as the common hamster, hibernate for about five cold months. Only when very hungry do they wake up to refresh themselves and fall asleep again. As a result of their metabolism slowing down during this period, they are able to easily survive the harsh winter. Others continue to lead active image life and periodically go to the surface for food. Awakening usually occurs in February, when the ground thaws.

Getting out doesn't happen right away. For about a month, the underground inhabitants still sit in their burrows, eating up the remaining supplies. Only after a month do they open the passages. Immediately after hibernation, hamsters begin to collect preserved seeds and grains in the fields, then the turn of young shoots comes. The animals are not averse to tasting meat if weakened or wounded animals are encountered along the way.

They themselves do not hunt, with the exception of steppe hamsters. These are the most aggressive members of the family, and sometimes they even attack rabbits.

The lifespan of rodents is determined not only by living conditions, but also by belonging to a particular species. On average, the period varies from 2 to 7 years. In the wild, most die prematurely because they become prey large predators and birds: foxes, gray herons, kites, badgers, owls. There are frequent cases of their young being eaten by rooks and crows.

The wild animal that will be discussed in this article is very reminiscent of its cute and tame relatives. It can sometimes be found on your summer cottage and if he settles nearby, he will bring a lot of problems and troubles. We're talking about an ordinary hamster. It is also called “karbysh”, “garden hamster” or “garden hamster”.

External signs and behavior of a country hamster.

At first glance, it may seem that the karbysh is very similar to the domestic Syrian hamster, only larger. But the differences are actually much greater.

Weight and size. A wild hamster is approximately three times larger than domestic representatives - its weight reaches 600-800 grams, and its length is up to 40 centimeters. Proportionally larger ears and a prominent, but still short tail also stand out. Most often there are two types of color - black and golden.

Similar to domestic ones, the garden hamster is a loner. However, it was revealed interesting fact: if a hamster discovers a very “tasty” area, he brings his relatives to it, and they calmly get along together for some time. Among domestic animals, only Robovsky's small hamsters are capable of group existence, and even then not in all cases.

Aggression is the middle name of the wild common hamster. They attack anything that moves in their direction, regardless of the size of the perceived enemy.

Yes, they can attack and bite even a person. It is not possible to tame such a hamster, even if you catch it while still a baby.

They are also aggressive towards their relatives, with rare exceptions, which are described above. Males may be favorable only to females during the breeding season, usually in the spring. The babies stay with their mother hamster until they are 12-16 weeks old. Females are able to reproduce at 8-10 weeks.

Hamsters have a very cunning system of burrows - in addition to the main exit, there are several spare ones, several false ones, as well as a system of “rooms” and nests.

Signs of the presence of a wild hamster in the country

• First of all, these are tunnels and exits from holes. In a hamster they are wider than in moles and shrews, their diameter reaches 10 centimeters.
• Pay attention to the nearby trees. The hamster likes to gnaw the bark at the very bottom, near the roots.
• Unlike other animals, when housekeeping, hamsters leave characteristic small marks.
• Another sign is digging at the roots of potatoes and carrots.

It is very important to detect the animal in time, since daily norm Consumption by one hamster reaches 700 grams of food. At this rate, one or a couple of hamsters are capable of destroying the lion's share of the crop.

Wild hamster in the country - what to do?

First of all, it is important to know about the aggressiveness of a wild hamster and not to approach him with your bare hands. Unfortunately, these animals are carriers of up to 30 different dangerous infections. And the bites leave lacerations, which is also not very pleasant.

Methods of deliverance are classified into two types - expulsion and destruction. The first, of course, are more humane towards animals, but if ineffective, you will have to resort to the second category.

You can drive out hamsters by working on their burrows.

1. The most labor-intensive method is digging holes. The hamster is guaranteed to leave, but there are cases when the animal fundamentally dug up a new burrow system. If you decide to do this, remember that the depth of the burrows can reach two meters, and the length up to 10, not counting the endless branches.
2. You can pour water until the hamster jumps out and catch him.
3. Similarly, hamsters are smoked out of their burrows.
4. A not entirely humane, but not lethal way is to find all the entrances and pour wood ash into them. The hamster will get dirty in it and eat it when washing. Ash can cause poisoning and with such constant pain the hamster will leave its place of residence.
5. Ultrasonic rodent repellers are also effective on hamsters. But then you will have to purchase a more powerful modification, designed for an area of ​​up to 1200 square meters. A person can hear the sounds produced by the device, but such a repeller is safe for people and large animals. However, dogs, cats, domestic rodents and birds should be removed from the affected area.

Hamsters are usually destroyed through poisonous mixtures or hunting animals. In the second case, the hamster can defeat or infect the hunter through bites and scratches. And if you decide to let the catcher into the garden, do not use poisonous mixtures, as they can also harm your pets. You can first weaken or lure out the wild hamster more humanely.

1. If you decide to use poison bait, then you need to know that the hamster will not just eat the poison. The first step is to put in non-poisoned bait, perhaps the hamster will try it.
2. There are trained cats and dogs - rat catchers. Not every cat breed is suitable for fighting a hamster. But, for example, they are much stronger than most breeds and can cope with hamsters.
3. A mixture of lime and sugar poured into holes can weaken or even kill a wild hamster. It causes severe chemical burns to the skin and mucous membranes.
4. Various mousetraps are generally not effective against hamsters. Even if they are placed near the exits from the holes, the hamster will think of not to climb into it, and if it does, it will squeak to warn its relatives of the danger.

There are many ways to deal with wild hamsters and for better results it is better to use and combine at least 2 or 3 of those proposed in the article. It is recommended to start with humane methods, that is, try to drive the wild hamster out of the area.

The video clearly demonstrates what happens if you get too close to a carbysh.

Lives on planet Earth great amount hamsters and hamsters. They can be found on all continents, with the exception of Antarctica and Australia.

The largest number of varieties of these animals is found in America and on the islands off its coast (subfamily Sigmondontinae) (more about the types of hamsters). African hamsters belong to the subfamily Lophiomyinae, and those living in Eurasia belong to the subfamily Cricetinae, family Cricetidae.

The Central Asian (Syrian) hamster is well known as a pet. In the wild, it lives only in a small area in northwestern Syria.

The animals inhabit various biotypes: forests, forest-steppes, steppes, semi-deserts, deserts, savannas, mountains, shores of reservoirs. Many species settle in close proximity to humans.

On the territory of Russia, mainly in steppe zone, there are 12 species of these animals.

Features of the appearance of hamsters

All hamsters are relatively small, their body length is from 5 cm (in a dwarf hamster) to 30 cm (in an ordinary hamster). The tail can be either barely noticeable or exceeding the length of the body. The animals weigh, depending on the variety, from 7 to 700 grams.

All hamsters have a small compact round body, short paws with sharp claws, small (and in some species quite large) ears, bulging dark eyes, and long mustaches.

The fur of the animals is quite thick, usually soft. The color of the back can be very diverse: from ashen, brown or brown to red, golden or almost black. The abdomen is most often light-colored.

Characteristic hamsters - cheek pouches, which are loose folds of skin starting from the space between the incisors and molars and stretching along the outside of the lower jaw. The cheek pouches stretch, allowing the animal to carry a large amount of provisions into its pantries (storages). In nature, such pantries are very useful devices, especially for animals living in places where food appears irregularly, but in large quantities.

The front legs of these rodents somewhat resemble hands, which allows them to deftly handle food. Hamsters often make characteristic movements of their paws that allow them to squeeze food forward from their cheek pouches.

Hamsters have poor eyesight, but they have a good sense of smell and acute hearing. They communicate with each other using ultrasounds and squeaks, audible to the human ear.

Lifestyle of hamsters in nature

Known to many as pets, hamsters natural conditions– solitary animals, while being aggressive towards their relatives. This behavior may be the result of constant competition for unevenly distributed but sometimes abundant food resources. Some large species They can even attack dogs and people in case of danger!

The active life of most of these animals in the wild begins at dusk and continues throughout the night. During the day, rodents rest in burrows. Their burrows are solid buildings with numerous passages, storerooms and nesting chambers.

Some American species adapted to life in trees. They build complex nests of leaves in a tangle of vines.

During the cold season, rodents fall into torpor or short-term hibernation - long-term hibernation is not typical for hamsters.

To ensure that provisions are always “at hand,” hamsters stock up seasonally, storing non-perishable seeds and other products in their pantries. They feed on them cold winter when they come out of torpor for a while, as well as in the spring, when there is still not enough food.

Diet

Hamsters are primarily herbivorous animals. The basis of their diet is seeds, shoots, root vegetables (wheat, barley, millet, peas, beans, carrots, potatoes, beets, etc.), as well as leaves and flowers.

The hamster carries small provisions, such as seeds, into the hole in the cheek pouches, and larger provisions, such as potatoes, in the teeth. It stores food for the winter, eats it underground, or eats it on the spot (in calm conditions). The rat-like hamster, for example, can carry 42 soybeans in its cheek pouches.

Continuation of the family line

Most species reach sexual maturity soon after the end of milk feeding or even earlier. For example, a female common hamster can give birth as early as 59 days old.

Pre-Asian hamsters develop a little more slowly and reach sexual maturity at the age of 57-70 days. In nature, they reproduce 1, less than 2 times a year, in spring and summer, although at home they can bear offspring all year round. Only female rat hamsters in nature can produce 3 litters per year. On average, there are 9-10 cubs in a brood, sometimes up to 22.

In preparation for becoming a mother, the female builds a nest of grass, wool and feathers. Pregnancy lasts from 16 to 20 days (in an ordinary hamster). Babies are born naked and blind.

Courtship is simple and short, like all animals that meet only to continue their race. After mating, the pair splits up, and it is most likely that the male and female will never meet again. The exception is Djungarian hamsters, which are wonderful fathers and even serve as obstetricians to their partners. The father helps the newborns to be born, cleanses them of the remains of the placenta and licks their nostrils to allow them to breathe. He then stays with the female and offspring to keep them warm. When the mother leaves to feed, he stays behind to watch the babies.

In the pre-Asian hamster, the cubs are separated from their mother at the age of three weeks. And the slowest developing species, the mouse-shaped hamster, may not reach adult size even by 6 months.

Enemies in nature

It is not surprising that these small rodents have many enemies in nature. They are hunted by foxes, badgers, ferrets, weasels, stoats, wild dogs, owls, kites and other birds of prey. The nocturnal lifestyle saves hamsters from some dangers, but mostly they have to rely only on caution, camouflage and fast paws. Suspecting something is wrong, the rodent runs to its hole, trying to hide in it as quickly as possible.

Hamsters and humans

For the winter, hamsters store a large amount of food in the storerooms of their burrows (on average 3-15 kg), however, due to their relatively low population density, damage agriculture they cause little damage.

The history of the relationship between a person and an ordinary hamster is interesting. The number of this species in the 40s of the 20th century was high, although more than a million skins were harvested annually. Since the 70s, a sharp increase in its numbers began, especially in Crimea. By the beginning of the 21st century, it settled on private plots and in city parks, reaching a density unprecedented in nature - 136 individuals per 1 hectare. This species was regularly observed even on the outskirts of Moscow. IN Western Europe in the 1970s, in some areas, 15-20 thousand hamsters lived in an area of ​​1 km2. Obviously, with such a population, the species is a pest, so various methods of destruction were used, starting with pesticides and ending with specially trained dogs to exterminate hamsters. As a result, in last years the species has practically disappeared. Today it is under strict protection in many European countries, however, it is not possible to restore the number.

Most other hamster species are not endangered, probably because they live in sparsely populated areas and have high speed reproduction.

In contact with

The appearance of wild hamsters in a garden or summer cottage brings a lot of trouble to their owners. Unlike domestic furry pets, which cannot eat a lot of things, a wild hamster is omnivorous and is capable of destroying fruits, vegetables, root crops and grain crops in the countryside.

Owners of household plots, in order to protect and preserve their crops, must know the basic rules for dealing with hamsters, which cause a lot of trouble.

Before you start breeding animals, you need to remember that their mucous membrane is a breeding ground for numerous infections (more than thirty species). When you start hunting for hamsters, you first need to think about protecting your hands from bites and how to kill a hamster without harming your own health.

The main difference wild species from domesticated individuals is a tri-color coat color. You can also distinguish them thanks to physiological feature animals - the appearance of cheek pouches intended for transporting food, the reserves of which they constantly replenish.

The main reason why you need to get rid of hamsters is that even though these animals are loners, if a nourishing place is found, their relatives will immediately find out about it. Also, the wild species of rodents is quite prolific. In a year, one female can give birth to up to three litters (this is about forty babies), which in two months will independently reproduce and in the warm season can quickly populate vast territories and destroy almost everything that can be eaten.

Signs of hamsters appearing in a summer cottage

Wild species of rodents are not afraid of humans. Fighting hamsters in the garden is a troublesome task. If there is a lot of food in your area, then the animal will live peacefully and often not in one copy.

At a time when his reserves are in danger, he can put up violent resistance and attack a person, protecting his bins.

Signs of a rodent appearing in a suburban area are:

• Presence of holes and tracks.
• Numerous passages and paths along which animals move.
• Digging for tubers.
• Damaged fruits or their remains after being eaten.
• The bark at the bottom of trees or bushes has been eaten.

If you discover trails, burrows or other signs of rodent habitation, you should immediately look for effective ways how to get rid of hamsters in the garden.

One effective way extermination of wild hamsters has not yet been invented. Everyone chooses for themselves the most acceptable method from many existing ones.

Methods for controlling field hamsters

To expel pests, the following control methods are considered the most common:

Everyone chooses for themselves the most appropriate way to deal with hamsters. The choice of control method depends on personal preferences and capabilities.

Traditional methods of rodent control

They are also used to clean gardens from pests. traditional methods fighting hamsters:

1. Use of wood ash. It is crushed and poured into burrows. The alkali contained in it corrodes the paws of rodents.
2. Place a mixture of wheat flour and alabaster near the burrows, next to which a container of water is placed. After eating the dry mixture, the animals drink water. When it enters the stomach, the alabaster hardens and the pest dies.
3. The wine cork is crushed and mixed with bread, adding sunflower oil to the mixture to bind the components. After entering the rodent's stomach, the pieces of cork swell and clog the intestines, which leads to the death of the animal.
4. Sugar is mixed with quicklime and placed in holes. After eating, the stomach gets burns and after ten to fifteen minutes the hamster dies.

Also, to prevent the appearance of pests, you can plant the area with plants whose aroma rodents cannot tolerate.

Conclusion

The considered methods of combating the field or common hamster have both advantages and disadvantages. The destruction of rodents in gardens, preserving the integrity of the harvest of vegetables, fruits and other crops is the main task of every owner of a personal plot. Existing methods allow everyone to choose the most suitable large quantity presented.