The common hamster hibernates during the winter months. Unlike winter dormancy, its metabolic processes are reduced to an extreme minimum during this time. It wakes up at regu- lar intervals to feed from its stock. A common hamster needs a 2–5 kg stock of food for its months underground. Without sufficient stocks it would not survive the winter.
Since 2021 Zoo Leipzig, together with other partners, participates in the working group "Cooperative European hamster conservation in the Free State of Saxony" and contributes to a holistic conservation strategy for European hamsters with its breeding station and support measures for hamster populations.
Characteristics
| Classification | Order: rodents (Rodentia); Family: cricetids (Cricetidae) |
|---|---|
| Diet | Primarily seeds and grains like cereals, pulses or wild flower seeds, but also parts of plants, beets or potatoes. Sometimes they also feed on birds eggs, small vertebrates and invertebrates. |
| Habitat | A typical inhabitant of steppes and cultivated landscapes. It used to find optimal habitats in the small-scale agricultural landscapes of Central Europe. It uses deep loess or clay soils away from groundwater to build its complex burrow systems. |
| Reproduction | Gestation period: 17-20 days, as many as 3 litters with up to 12 individuals (usually 6-8), which are weaned at 25-30 days. |
Status according to Red List
More information you will get on the web page of the IUCN Red List.
