Post by Die Fledermaus on Apr 2, 2006 15:03:59 GMT -4
The first thing you can do is a forum Search for "escaped hamster" threads, and then read them. You will learn many things. There have been numerous threads on this topic in past months.
Besides doing that. . .
Secure the room. Be sure there is no way out.
At night, leave out food and water. I once had a ham escape for ten days and be found safe; yesterday I caught an escaped gerbil after 12 days! I knew he was there as he'd disturb the food and water at night or when I was not there.
So, what do I do to find one? I have a deep big pail or bin ready with food inside. As they often hide under chairs or furniture I try to flush them out by making noise and causing them to move away from the noise to an area I want them to be, an area I can corner them in, often with boxes or guinea pig gates blocking them off. This is exactly how I caught Luke, the escaped and very fast gerbil. I slowly and patiently got him into the kitchen, which I then blocked off.
Once he was in there, knowing I could not grab him with my hand (some I can) I waited, and waited, motionless, and then he got curious and smelled the food, and went into the bin! In an instant I righted the bin keeping my hand over the top so he could not jump out, although it was likely too deep for a gerb; a ham never could have. I had him!!
Sometimes hamsters are too nervous and only come out at night. Leave crinkly paper around or something so you can hear them moving. It will give you an idea where they are, and you can try cornering them. At some point you may have to just wait patiently: in Dion's case, he being very nervous, I had to leave clean big flower pots on their sides with a little food. Eventually (after those ten days!) I heard him moving. Slowly I tip toed to where I heard the sound, slowly. I saw his behind sticking out of a pot. Again, I quickly righted the pot so the opening faced up, and I had him! Cutest hamster I ever had.
On rare occasions if a ham or gerb is under a chair or something and I can kneel nearby mortionless; eventually they usually get curious and look around, and I have grabbed a few that way, the gerbils by the tail; the hams only with a glove as they might be scared and bite. I dumped each instantly into a nearby pail.
If you have a wooden floor you can lightly dust it with talc and trace his footprints to any hiding place.
If all else fails, buy a Have-a-Heart humane trap which you can find online. They are cheap, and safe for small animals. I was about to order one for that escaped gerbil I mentioned today, but I caught him so no need.
Let me add something. Hamsters do not want to "escape" so much as go out and FORAGE for food as they do in nature, and then return with their pouched stash.
But you still should look for them lest they get into something harmful
And that is what I do. Good luck.
Besides doing that. . .
Secure the room. Be sure there is no way out.
At night, leave out food and water. I once had a ham escape for ten days and be found safe; yesterday I caught an escaped gerbil after 12 days! I knew he was there as he'd disturb the food and water at night or when I was not there.
So, what do I do to find one? I have a deep big pail or bin ready with food inside. As they often hide under chairs or furniture I try to flush them out by making noise and causing them to move away from the noise to an area I want them to be, an area I can corner them in, often with boxes or guinea pig gates blocking them off. This is exactly how I caught Luke, the escaped and very fast gerbil. I slowly and patiently got him into the kitchen, which I then blocked off.
Once he was in there, knowing I could not grab him with my hand (some I can) I waited, and waited, motionless, and then he got curious and smelled the food, and went into the bin! In an instant I righted the bin keeping my hand over the top so he could not jump out, although it was likely too deep for a gerb; a ham never could have. I had him!!
Sometimes hamsters are too nervous and only come out at night. Leave crinkly paper around or something so you can hear them moving. It will give you an idea where they are, and you can try cornering them. At some point you may have to just wait patiently: in Dion's case, he being very nervous, I had to leave clean big flower pots on their sides with a little food. Eventually (after those ten days!) I heard him moving. Slowly I tip toed to where I heard the sound, slowly. I saw his behind sticking out of a pot. Again, I quickly righted the pot so the opening faced up, and I had him! Cutest hamster I ever had.
On rare occasions if a ham or gerb is under a chair or something and I can kneel nearby mortionless; eventually they usually get curious and look around, and I have grabbed a few that way, the gerbils by the tail; the hams only with a glove as they might be scared and bite. I dumped each instantly into a nearby pail.
If you have a wooden floor you can lightly dust it with talc and trace his footprints to any hiding place.
If all else fails, buy a Have-a-Heart humane trap which you can find online. They are cheap, and safe for small animals. I was about to order one for that escaped gerbil I mentioned today, but I caught him so no need.
Let me add something. Hamsters do not want to "escape" so much as go out and FORAGE for food as they do in nature, and then return with their pouched stash.
But you still should look for them lest they get into something harmful
And that is what I do. Good luck.