Escaped Hamster

Allys Hamsters · 07-26-2015, 09:27 AM

Hi, My naughty hamster May escaped two nights ago from her exercise ball. She was only there for 2 minutes before managing to push the lid off. I have a humane squirrel trap set up as I've never had any luck with bucket traps. I think she has gotten into the walls of my room through the radiator pipes. So I'm not quit sure what to do.

Sorry if this post is a bit long.

Piebald · 07-26-2015, 10:14 AM

Hi Allys gosh sorry to hear that. There are people here with experience with escaped hamsters. One thing I would suggest is leave her cage door open with food inside and make sure it is accessible-- put it on the floor maybe. Many a hammie wants to return to their bed come morning. Good luck!

Shannonmcn · 07-26-2015, 11:53 AM

She will most likely come out for food, find something that smells strongly like some peanut butter or some cheese or cucumber too since it has a strong smell and will also be good to keep her hydrated.

If you read the last few pages of Hubbles thread , he's just back from a holiday in the walls and the bucket trap worked! Have you got it set up close to where she got into the walls? Can you hear her occasionally?

**DrKMcK** · 07-26-2015, 01:27 PM

Here we go again. Hubble's just back from his adventure and here's this little one. They are such escape artists. **sigh** Allys Hamsters, since you have a humane trap already set up, I would also set up a bucket trap. (I also use both for escapees) So do as Shannonmcn says about a nice, smelly, food and do what Jen250 did. Any food left for her should be in the humane trap and leading to, and inside, the bucket trap. If she has access to other food easily, she'll scoff it all up in her pouches and create a stash in your walls. Put some cucumber in both traps so she has fluids. I've had a hammy lost for about a month while I was hospitalized and a friend was caring for my hams. So don't give up. I hope she's found as quickly as Hubble was. Fingers are crossed here.

Jen250 · 07-27-2015, 03:19 AM

Oh dear. I feel for you. These hamsters are certainly in an escape mood these days! As been mentioned already by Shannonmcn and DrKmcK, I set up a bucket trap. It didn't work the first night I set it out, but it did work the next night. I will say one thing that set me back was keeping his cage open on the floor so he could get inside, because all he did was stock up on food and run back into the walls with it! Use the smelliest food possible. I think peanut butter helped.

racinghamster · 07-27-2015, 04:20 AM

Aside from setting the traps with yummy food, hamsters like familiarity, so place his cage on the floor near a wall where you think he may have got through a gap and leave some of his bedding near the wall where he will smell himself and run a ramp or something he can easily climb into the cage. If you can monitor this all the better, but check it often. Keep very quiet and listen for little noises. Tap the wooden skirting boards or anything nearby if you hear anything. Importantly, try and locate him. x

Pebbles82 · 07-27-2015, 06:27 AM

Hope the squirrel trap works - if you have some chocolate hammy treats (not real chocolate which makes them very ill, but special hammy chocolate treats) try putting some of those in the end of it to tempt him in. Charlie goes for those every time. And I've found chocolate catches mice every time (and rats!). If you use the squirrel trap though I would try and be on hand and not leave it too long or he may get quite stressed being trapped inside it.

Nancy's Hamsters · 07-27-2015, 07:17 AM

Not sure what wheel you have BUT I have found when your home and it is quiet and dark you can place two or three hard kibble bits in a Wodent Wheel and so far this has not failed to recapture a wheel loving escapee at this house

The kibbles will rattle when the wheeling Hamster begins to run in the wheel(LOL just ask those who have tried to sleep while their Dear Hamster is running with a food loaded wheel how loud the sound is). Sit someplace in the same room as the wheel and have the wheel sitting in such a way you can easily sneak up(the rattle works both ways as the Hamster is slightly dulled of hearing things about them while food is rattling about loudly) and collect your hamster up wheel and all and place back in the cage.

Allys Hamsters · 07-27-2015, 10:34 AM

I've found the mischievous ham but she has cuts on her feet but I've dabbed saline on them and are going to block off any hole that are hammy sized.

Piebald · 07-27-2015, 10:37 AM

Oh good news! Do tell how you found her?