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jawnski · 10-18-2013, 08:24 PM

I got my first hamster (Syrian) yesterday. Long story short, I'm keeping him in the basement and he got out over night. Most of my basement is finished, but some isn't, and there are unreachable areas all behind the walls. Basically, a mouse/hamster's dream world.

I went to check on him at 7am when I woke up, and he was gone. Naturally, I panicked. Tore apart the finished and unfinished basement ares (deduced that he forced himself through a door to the unfinished basement area that wasn't fully closed because of wires), but couldn't find him. Started Googling, and found a method that said place sheets of tinfoil with mounds of their food in different rooms then turn all your lights off and wait (depending on time.) The method was more complicated (flour to track them, bucket traps, etc.) Since it was still early and he was still likely active, I quickly did this, turned all the lights off and waited.

Within 5-10 minutes I heard the crinkle of tinfoil in the furthest part of the basement from his cage (also unfinished), and my flashlight app revealed the little guy wolfing down his chow. Scooped him up in a solo cup, he didn't even try to run.

Basically, this method was incredibly effective for me. Highly recommend for basements and probably anywhere in the house!

10-18-2013, 08:24 PM
jawnski Newborn Pup Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 3	Re: How to recapture an escaped hamster I got my first hamster (Syrian) yesterday. Long story short, I'm keeping him in the basement and he got out over night. Most of my basement is finished, but some isn't, and there are unreachable areas all behind the walls. Basically, a mouse/hamster's dream world. I went to check on him at 7am when I woke up, and he was gone. Naturally, I panicked. Tore apart the finished and unfinished basement ares (deduced that he forced himself through a door to the unfinished basement area that wasn't fully closed because of wires), but couldn't find him. Started Googling, and found a method that said place sheets of tinfoil with mounds of their food in different rooms then turn all your lights off and wait (depending on time.) The method was more complicated (flour to track them, bucket traps, etc.) Since it was still early and he was still likely active, I quickly did this, turned all the lights off and waited. Within 5-10 minutes I heard the crinkle of tinfoil in the furthest part of the basement from his cage (also unfinished), and my flashlight app revealed the little guy wolfing down his chow. Scooped him up in a solo cup, he didn't even try to run. Basically, this method was incredibly effective for me. Highly recommend for basements and probably anywhere in the house!