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| Important note: Hamsters CANNOT be left outside alone, or put outside as you would a dog or cat: they WILL run away and they WILL NOT come back!!! Letting your hamster run around outside is a lot of fun for your hamster but, even in an enclosure, it is a risky thing if proper precautions are not taken. Please read this complete section before you decide to let your hamster play outside. I think now would be an appropriate time to mention that releasing a pet hamster to the wild is an extremely inhumane thing to do. Pet hamsters cannot survive in the wild: they were raised in captivity and do not have the necessary skills to survive. They will inevitably die of hunger, accident, or more than likely, fall to predators. |
| Hamsters love freedom. They are naturally inquisitive creatures and enjoy exploring new places. What place is more interesting than a constantly changing environment: your own backyard? Although it may not seem like it, any outdoor place has consistently changing smells, sights, objects, plants . . . even the rise and fall of the land (to a hamster) changes over a few weeks. This gives your hamster an infinite number of different things to do and see every time it is let out. But with this new freedom comes many dangers. It is important to take precautions to prevent your hamster from escaping, and also to keep it safe and healthy. Follow the 5 steps below to ensure this. |
| Before you put your hamster outside: NOTE: never put your hamster on grass that has been sprayed, or if plants or grass nearby have been sprayed * 1) Choose a fine day, around room temperature and preferably without a breeze. Make sure the ground isn’t damp from rain or dew. * 2) Clear a large area of the lawn from all dangerous objects: glass, plastic, bags etc. Leaves and other natural things are fine, as long as they don’t have thorns or other possible dangers. Remove any unwanted animals: scorpions, snakes. . . !!! * 3) Use tall objects to make a fence around the area you have cleared and DOUBLE-CHECK to make sure there are no gaps. Never let a hamster run loose, without a fence! They are very quick and will easily run off. * 4) Put your hamster in the enclosure but NEVER leave it alone! Keep a close eye on it, preferably sitting in the enclosure with it. Hamsters are burrowing animals, so it may try to dig; be prepared to stop it if it gets more than a few centimetres deep! Don’t be surprised to find your hamster stuffing things into its cheek pouches: it will choose all its favourite things for bedding or food, wanting to bring them back home with it. When its cheeks are full, put it back in its cage at least until it has emptied them. * 5) The first time you take your hamster out (ever, or for the year), let it only be for a few minutes: so many new things can be overwhelming! Lengthen the time slowly over several outings until your hamster is comfortable. Even when your hamster’s comfortable being outside, return it to its cage every 15 minutes or so. Hamsters especially love having a run on the lawn in the fall, as all kinds of interesting leaves and seeds are on the ground that the hamster will stuff in its cheek pouches to bring back to its cage. A note about hamster leashes Hamster leashes are new on the pet supply market, but they definitely aren’t a worthy contribution. Hamsters aren’t made for leashes the way dogs are and suffer discomfort or pain while the leash is on. For one, the leashes aren’t made nearly big enough for Syrian hamsters and it’s a struggle to get them on in the first place. Once on, they squeeze the hamster’s neck, windpipe, and lungs. Unless the leash fits very loosely, it’s advisable not to use them at all. If you do choose to use a leash, be a follower rather than the leader, and go where your hamster wants to go, at its speed: do not yank on the leash or pull the hamster where you want it to go. Use the leash only when necessary and for short periods of time. |
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| Steps to take Hamster leashes |
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| An Interesting Life Visits to the Garden A Hamster Arena Hamster Wonderland Simple Tips |