Ham-bone escaped, Ham-tzu in

[RodentKing]

About a week ago I went to check on my hamster, Ham-bone and she was gone. She escaped from her set up and is now missing in action. If she is anywhere in my house she has gotten into the walls. I deduced this because there is no feces or pee anywhere in the house and i have left food out over night and she didn't take it. I don't know how or when she got away but I am convinced she is gone.

Enter: Ham Tzu my new short haired syrian female!!! HOORAY!!!!!! I just got her and she is loving it so far. She is so exploratory it's amazing and she loooooves to climb. Will post pics soon.

If you are religious please pray for Ham-bone and for Ham Tzu to live a long healthy hamster life!!

Stay tuned for pics!

[Zouave]

You waited a week to post about Ham-Bone?? Maybe someone could have helped you find him.

I once had a hamster missing ten days, and he later showed up. (Of course I left out food and water).

Here is my pasted stuff about escapes:


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.

And that is what I do. Good luck.

[RodentKing]

Please don't interpret my not posting as neglect. I searched high and low for any sign of my hamster before concluding she was gone. It has been 13 days. I've read peoples stories and their methods for catching escapees. I had to go on vacation the day after my beloved Ham-bone escaped (I came home from work the night before I had to leave and she was gone). She got out once before and I found her right away. I left her food out on both floors of my house just to see if she was still here and she didn't take any of it. (I also left all the doors to every room open so she could come out and find the food)

I don't think she is coming back. I am basing it on the premise that everytime she had escaped and stayed in the room she escaped in and I entered the room she would come back. She was an extremely inquisitive hamster and I do not think she would hesitate to make herself known. I even had a friend who was house sitting watch out for her while I was at the beach. Nothing. Trust me I wanted to find that hamster and cannot bear the thought of her being hungry and thirsty somewhere, but if she wants to stay hidden then there is nothing I can do about it. Also, don't you think there would be at least some sign (droppings or urine)? I don't think she would purposely hide her poop...

I miss my Ham-bone very very much and wish I could find her. I thought I heard her in the walls the other night but there is no way to know as I cannot break a hole in the wall. I am afraid if she is in the walls a fan is going to get her or a nail or something, but realistically what can I do about it if she did get into the walls? Our house is two stories and there are 13 rooms and lots of walls...

I know people are eager to help find escaped animals here but I felt I could handle the situation. Thank you for your advice Zouvave but please don't think of me as neglectful...I really loved that hamster and wish she was still here.

[Fluff N Roll]

Just a thought if you havn't already.
Set the cage on the floor, put some food down on the floor around the house and go back around and see later if it is gone either she is still there or you have something els living in your house lol, put some treats down too. She might come out sooner or later if you find the food gone, Keep look though.
good luck

[7GameSavvy]

My hammie Smidget escaped twice, the first time I found her the same night under my drapes (saw the hammy butt sticking out). The second time she was gone for 5 days and I nearly had an ulcer from worrying about her. But one night I was in the kitchen and she went scuttling across the floor from the stove area (she had traveled from the up stairs to the down stairs!). So all I can suggest is you look under/behind the stove and fridge, just be careful you don't squish her in the process. Good luck and I hope you find her.:)

Savvy

[RodentKing]

I thought about the fridge because my friend told me off an escaped ham who went under the fridge and the fan chopped her head off...I went looking there as soon as she told me that story. There is no opening from the front though. As for the stove it is off the ground built into the cabinet structure thing.

Thanks for the advice all. Today is the two weeks exactly from when I discovered the escape.

[7GameSavvy]

Huh, well I don't know what else to tell ya. But I'm sorry!!! I hope you find her (or she finds you).:bawling:

Savvy

[RodentKing]

I know. I miss her. I don't want her to die in my house's walls but I don't know what else I can do...

[7GameSavvy]

I guess you'll just have to wait, that's all I could do when my Ham got lost.:(

Savvy