Can I Release My Hamster Into The Wild? Find Out Now

Last updated on January 22nd, 2023 at 06:47 pm

Keeping hamsters is fun and interesting, but sometimes we don’t have time like before to keep our pets or the costs become too high and we need to find a solution for them.

One solution is to release your hamster back into the wild.

The first thing that comes to mind is whether our hamsters will be okay if we return them to the wild.

Can I Release My Hamster Into The Wild?

You should not release your hamster into the wild because they have not been trained on how to survive outside of a cage. Hamsters that we keep at home will not be able to adapt to the brutality that awaits them in nature.

If you release your hamster into the wild it will likely die from dehydration, starvation, attacks by predators, or from too much cold or hot weather.

Therefore, if you cannot keep the hamster, it is better to give it to someone who has the desire to keep a hamster.

Can I Release My Hamster Into The Wild?

No, you cannot release your pet back into the wild, it will be too bad for him, and he probably won’t survive.

Hamsters that we keep at home do have some natural instincts, but that still won’t be enough for them to manage outside in the wild.

Releasing hamsters into the wild can also cause problems with local ecosystems as they can cause disruption in the natural order especially if they breed, which they certainly will if they survive.

In any case, before you decide to release your hamster into the wild, read what problems can occur and why we do not recommend you take such a step.

The hamster will become dehydrated

If you release hamsters into the wild they may face problems finding water and the danger of dehydration.

If the hamster does not drink water for 3-4 days, it can die of dehydration.

Hamsters will find water from ponds and springs, but the danger is not knowing how long time it will be, if it takes them a long time they will die.can I release my hamster Into the wild

Danger of starvation

If you release the hamsters into the wild it will be very difficult for them to manage for food, because they are taught that the owners always supply them with new amounts of food in their cage.

Sometimes we give them food and when they don’t want to eat, we convince them to try some new food, and in nature, they wouldn’t have that opportunity.

If they don’t find food in nature, they may die of hunger, and even if they find it, it won’t be the same food that we give them in the cage.

In nature, there is no one to give them food rich in vitamins, and we know that they need vitamin C, which they cannot produce on their own.

If they do not find a variety of food in nature, they will get sick due to a lack of certain ingredients and may die.

Risk of parasites

The hamsters that we keep at home, if we release them into the wild, will not have the resistance to certain parasites, they can easily get sick and die.

When we keep them at home, when they have parasites, we take them to a veterinarian who gives them appropriate antibiotics to clean them of worms, mites, and other parasites.

In nature, hamsters will not have their own veterinarian to treat them, which can easily be fatal if they get any parasites and diseases.

Danger from predators

Hamsters are small animals that are prey more often than they are predators.

The danger of predators lurks at every step in nature and the life of hamsters is much riskier than in domestic conditions.

Hamsters in nature are at the bottom of the food chain, which means that they will be hunted by a very large number of predators.

For example, cats, snakes, and others predators will easily catch a hamster especially if the hamster does not know how to escape or protect itself.

Temperature problems

When hamsters are in home conditions, they always have the temperature they need to feel comfortable, not to be cold, and not to be hot.

Whereas if we release them into nature there they will have big problems.

If it’s cold in nature, the hamster will have a hard time finding shelter if the ground is frozen, if it’s wet it’s also a big problem because it can make them sick and die.

When it is very hot in nature then they can get heat stroke if there is no place to take shelter.

In any case, weather conditions in nature can greatly affect their health and reduce their lifespan.

How do hamsters live in the wild?

If the hamster is born and lives in nature from a young age, then they are prepared to live in the wild, it knows how to survive with all the temptations that lie and wait for them.

In nature, they usually come out at night when they have a better chance of surviving attacks by predators, and during the day they hide in underground tunnels and holes.

Hamsters mostly live in dry and warm regions and are not very close to humans.

Hamsters that live in nature have their advantages because of their large teeth and sharp nails. Sharp claws help them dig tunnels more easily and escape from predators and other dangers.

Their cheek pouches help them store food for longer and stock up for later when they need it.

Hamsters have very good senses that help them compensate for poor eyesight when they are in danger from predators.

Domestic hamsters do not have such abilities as hamsters in the wild, and they manage to live well because of the care that we, the owners, provide to them on a daily basis.

If you release the domestic hamster into the wild it is very unlikely that it will survive.can I release my hamster Into the wild

What is the difference between wild and domestic hamsters?

Domestic hamsters cannot survive in the wild, and wild hamsters can for the following reasons.

The biggest difference is in their instinct for survival, which wild hamsters have, and domestic hamsters have not yet developed to the same level.

Wild hamsters have to use their survival instinct if they want to stay alive, while our domestic hamsters were not in that situation at all.

We give them to eat, drink, and everything else, while wild hamsters do not have such exclusivity and have to find for themselves.

Wild hamsters are much more aggressive than domestic hamsters, they are taught to defend themselves and bite as soon as their lives are threatened.

Domestic hamsters also know how to attack, but not with the same intensity as wild hamsters.

Do hamsters in the wild live longer than domestic hamsters?

Hamsters that live in the wild still live less than domestic hamsters.

As an example, we can take the Syrian hamster, which lives in the wild for 2-3 years, while in a cage for 3-4 years.

The nutrition of hamsters in domestic conditions is much better and healthier and therefore they live an average of one year longer than hamsters in the wild.

Where should I give my hamster?

If you cannot keep your hamster then it is best to give it to pet centers, give it to someone as a gift or eventually sell it.

All three of these options are better than releasing him into the wild as he will likely not be able to survive as he is a domesticated hamster who does not know how to survive in the wild.

At pet centers, they will take care of him until a new owner is found for your pet.

If you decide to sell it is a bit of a risky business because you don’t know who you are selling it to and how they will take care of your pet.

It is best if you manage to give it to a close friend or someone you trust and know will take care of the hamster as best they can.

In the end, you may as well give up all these things and keep your pet with you for the rest of his short life.

Read more: Can Hamsters Eat Carrots? All You Need To Know

Conclusion

Hamsters that live in a cage in domestic conditions cannot be released into the wild, they will not be able to get used to such a life.

They will not be able to find enough food and will easily become a target for predators, or they will die from dehydration, hunger, and bad weather conditions.

If we release them into the wild, we will only reduce their lifespan, so it is best to continue to keep them in our homes.

Read more: What Age Do Pet Stores Sell Hamsters? Let’s Find Out