Hamsters carry food to their underground storage chambers using their spacious cheek pouches. Full pouches can make their heads double or even triple in size.
Hamsters are more crepuscular than nocturnal. In the wild, they remain underground during the day to avoid being caught by predators, only leaving their burrows for about an hour before sundown and then returning when it gets dark.
The European hamster (Cricetus cricetus), also known as the Eurasian hamster or black-bellied hamster, is considered a farmland pest and has historically been trapped for its fur. It can weigh up to 16 oz (1 lb) and grow up to 35 cm (14 in) long with a tail of 6 cm (2.4 in).
Hamster comes from the German word "hamstern", which means "to hoard". Even domesticated hamsters will hoard, despite the fact that they don't need to.
Due to the shape and size of their hind feet, hamsters are often able to run as quickly backwards as they can forwards, which allows them to escape easily into their burrows.
Hamsters will cannibalize their young if they're stressed out. It's a defense mechanism, if a hamster feels unsafe in their environment they'll know their babies are in danger as well. The hamster response to this is to eat them instead of having them suffer. Things that can stress a mother hamster out include lack of food, a noisy environment, or too many babies to care for.
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