If I tell you to imagine a hamster you would probably picture the furball in a cage, on a wheel. But while these rodents are incredibly popular as pets, some of them still live in the wild.
Around the world, there are about 26 different species of wild hamsters that are spending their days away from captivity, and Bored Panda has compiled a list of them to show you that these little creatures are one of the cutest things you could meet outside and deserve more than to be hamster pets.
The European hamsters, which are mostly depicted here, are known to build vast food storage chamber systems underground, that can hold up to 65 kg of food for their wintering. A truly impressive amount for such a tiny and cute hamster!
From chewing on some corn to enjoying the smell of a flower, these hamsters in the wild prove they aren't just building burrows to hide from vicious predators. Scroll down to take a look at these adorable puffy-cheek fellows in their natural habitat and upvote your favorite pictures.
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His fur is such beautiful colors! This pic is GENIUS! Great shot!!
Adopt a rescue, don't buy one. You wouldn't want to see the mass breeding facilities small animals come from or how many suffer from the way they're treated as disposable by pet stores and the willingness of stores to sell an animal to anyone with a few bucks in their hand. Shelters and rescues all over have these animals who need safe, knowledgeable, permanent homes. Too often people abandon these pets when they realize they require work and vet care, just like any other companion animal.
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He wishes he was little bit taller, that he was a baller and had a girl who looked good (he would call her)
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This article is the first time in my life that the reality of Hamsters and Guinea Pigs being "real" animals that live in the wild has hit me. Which leads me to believe I may not be the brightest pickle in the jar :) I am now going to Google Hamsters and learn something new, dammit.
Ohhhhh I wish we had hamsters here in Australia.......guinea pigs just dont cut it........
Can we just photoshop this to that branch being a mic hanging from the ceiling? Mr. Kennedy types..
"She loves me... She loves me not... to hell with that, this looks tasty.. "
Man, this stuff is delicious, just can't get enough, lol.
Wow, so these run wild in Europe...does anyone take them as pets? Great pictures!!!
Finally something NOT about how a certain celebrity dressed for halloween.
Yes, I can stop for a moment and appreciate the fact that wild hamsters exist. ^_^
They actually seem to be better in the wild than as pets. I hear about them getting easily stressed around humans. When it comes to furry rodents, rats seem to be the best pets because of their intelligence, and that they have been bred domestically for considerably longer (18 or 19th century compared to the hamster's introduction as a pet in 1939.) Rabbits have been domesticated since the Middle Ages, making them pretty good pets as well, though they aren't as smart as rats.
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They're just... so... stinking... CUTE (i think i just peed a little)
In case somebody’s wondering: Most of these pictures show European hamsters. They’re living in Central Europe, some in urban areas e.g. Vienna. That’s also the reason they’re used to humans and let us get pretty close – but zoom helps, too. If you guys need more hamster content – feel free to check out my Facebook page Wilde Feldhamster/Wild European Hamsters in Vienna: http://www.facebook.com/feldhamsterinwien
Don't be fooled - they are vicious little bastards! Cute, but vicious.
Turns out, you don't need to have a bad day to be entertained by hamsters
These are some extraordinary photographs. Huge love to all the photographers for sharing. Lovely.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8d0rjOlIJDs At least you tried to feel better. Half the battle until things get better. Here is a kitten for you.
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Thanks for all the sweet pics and videos. Made me smile and made my day!
I so wish we had hamsters in New Zealand. Guinea Pigs are just not as cute. :-(
At the brink of exstinction in the wild due to "standard" agriculture, pestizides, gene-food and mono-culture. Too bad people aren't willing to invest a bit more money to protect our environment. It's all we've got...
I thought I'd add this as a rodent expert. Wild hamsters and domestic hamsters are COMPLETELY different. Domestic hamsters come from the golden hamster, a species that is now most used to humans. Wild hamsters aren't wild golden hamsters, that it simply their species name. You can have a pet wild hamster, though I'd recommend a golden hamster. Yes, golden hamsters are fine with being pets. They are domesticated. Seriously, they even have different markings; these wild hamsters are completely different from pet hamsters.
I love hamsters, but I think my 3 senior cats would take a hamster for a snack if I got one... 💖💖💖
these are so cute! their fur coat is better than what domesticated hamsters are lol but all hamsters are adorable!
Finally something NOT about how a certain celebrity dressed for halloween.
Yes, I can stop for a moment and appreciate the fact that wild hamsters exist. ^_^
They actually seem to be better in the wild than as pets. I hear about them getting easily stressed around humans. When it comes to furry rodents, rats seem to be the best pets because of their intelligence, and that they have been bred domestically for considerably longer (18 or 19th century compared to the hamster's introduction as a pet in 1939.) Rabbits have been domesticated since the Middle Ages, making them pretty good pets as well, though they aren't as smart as rats.
Load More Replies... They're just... so... stinking... CUTE (i think i just peed a little)
In case somebody’s wondering: Most of these pictures show European hamsters. They’re living in Central Europe, some in urban areas e.g. Vienna. That’s also the reason they’re used to humans and let us get pretty close – but zoom helps, too. If you guys need more hamster content – feel free to check out my Facebook page Wilde Feldhamster/Wild European Hamsters in Vienna: http://www.facebook.com/feldhamsterinwien
Don't be fooled - they are vicious little bastards! Cute, but vicious.
Turns out, you don't need to have a bad day to be entertained by hamsters
These are some extraordinary photographs. Huge love to all the photographers for sharing. Lovely.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8d0rjOlIJDs At least you tried to feel better. Half the battle until things get better. Here is a kitten for you.
Load More Replies... Thanks for all the sweet pics and videos. Made me smile and made my day!
I so wish we had hamsters in New Zealand. Guinea Pigs are just not as cute. :-(
At the brink of exstinction in the wild due to "standard" agriculture, pestizides, gene-food and mono-culture. Too bad people aren't willing to invest a bit more money to protect our environment. It's all we've got...
I thought I'd add this as a rodent expert. Wild hamsters and domestic hamsters are COMPLETELY different. Domestic hamsters come from the golden hamster, a species that is now most used to humans. Wild hamsters aren't wild golden hamsters, that it simply their species name. You can have a pet wild hamster, though I'd recommend a golden hamster. Yes, golden hamsters are fine with being pets. They are domesticated. Seriously, they even have different markings; these wild hamsters are completely different from pet hamsters.
I love hamsters, but I think my 3 senior cats would take a hamster for a snack if I got one... 💖💖💖
these are so cute! their fur coat is better than what domesticated hamsters are lol but all hamsters are adorable!
