Need help getting rid of hamsters

Published on January 16, 2008 By CharlesCS In Blogging

A friend of my wife had bought some hamsters and eventually found herself in a position where should could not care for them anymore. My wife and I thought we could take them in as the first pets for the kids. It's been a few months now and we went from 2 to 7 and soon will be more. It turns out it's not as easy to taake care of them as we thought. We don't have the time to be taking care of such small creatures.

We have already tried to give them away but i guess everyone else knew something we didn't know. Anyone have any suggestions on how to get rid of them in the most humane way possible? I searched animal shelters but so far no luck. Animal stores wont take them and I feel my only option is to find a nice wooded area away from population and release them and hope for the best.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Comments

CharlesCS

on Jan 16, 2008

they'll die slow.

Look for those that sell snakes and meat eating birds or reptiles, I'm sure they'll take all the small rodents off your hands, some may even pay you a nominal fee.

So a quick death is preferred? And I could make a buck while I'm at it? Hmmm, there's something to think about.

If you want to keep hammies in the future,

Never again. Talk about learning a quick lesson.

They are solitary creatures and actually PREFER to live alone.

Well, I guess you can say I am looking for nothing but trouble since I have 7, all in a 10 gallon fish tank.

As sad as it may sound, maybe that snake idea is not such a bad idea after all.

Zoologist03

on Jan 16, 2008

Actually...introducing a foreign species into the wild isn't a great idea...although I reckon hamsters probably wouldn't destroy an ecosystem. They'd just fit into the mouse/rat niche until something eats them. If you really can't get rid of them any other way...perhaps the feeder rodent option is the best. At least they won't go to waste.

I ended up in your situation once...with dwarf hamsters. Had 2...ended up with over twenty at one point. Luckily a pet store took them...mind you they didn't pay me one red cent.

~Zoo

Gene Nash

on Jan 17, 2008

I feel my only option is to find a nice wooded area away from population and release them and hope for the best.

That's not as humane as it may sound.

I don't know about the snake option. Have you tried offering them on Craig's List or something?

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