how long would a hamster survive in the wild?

Answers:
Hours. Maybe days, if it gets lucky.

On the other hand, when I was a little girl we had a hamster that escaped and lived in the walls of our house for months and months. She would sneak out and night and steal food from the dog's food bowl. You could hear her scratching from behind the tub sometimes.

Then one day there was a squeal. Then no more scratching.

The suspected culprit: a snake in the crawl space.


Of course, a rodent may only have seconds in the wild. Check out the link listed as my source for video proof:

---

not long it will get eaten by a cat or fox or something

I might report you to the RSPCA

---

about 5 minutes.a fox or cat would get'em and that'd be that! did your run away? mine ran away when i was a little girl and my cat had her within 10 mins.!!

---

It will not survive

---

Hamsters have colonised certain areas down south but unfortunately for them the local councils had to have them wiped out as a none native species, so if your in an area with warmish winters he will be ok.

---

lol, what kind of a question is that Hamsters don't belong in the wild, but hey anyway - if you are thinking of putting your hamster in the wild (which I hope not) I give your Hammy.. 15mins!

---

It would die of boredom with out a weal to run in

---

Depending on the location, breed and disposition of a hamster it may survive for a long period in the wild.

However, it is likely that in the case of a domesticated hamster that it would survive for a short period only. Such a hamster would not have the ability to obtain food for itself, and would probably die within a week.

If you are contemplating releasing your hamster into the wild this is not a good idea. Death from starvation, while painful per se, is made all the worse in the wild. Animals such as crows will prey on a dying animal. It is common for them to first take the eyes.

Love your hamster and keep it out of the wild.

---

We lost our hamster for a week. She wasn't really in the wild though, I found her in my closet eating a tootsie pop. If she had made it outside, all hope would be lost. If you are considering turning your hamster loose, check for a local rescue group. If you lost her, listen for her at night. If she's in your house, you'll be able to hear her chewing on things.

---

It depends on alot of things. When we lived in Africa a hamster of ours escaped and started a cross-bred colony with a mouse she met. But here in the UK the winters are a bit harsh for outdoor survival, perhaps a resouceful hamster would find a nice warm spot by a radiator pipe and settle there.

---

in the right circumstanses in the right place i think it could life out the rest of its life in the wild

---

not long/ may be 24 hours

---

mine survived a week in the house running free while i was away on hols! the hamster sitter let it out and he was roaming free for a week! she'd been looking for it for 8days and i found it in 10mins!

---

it depends

---

Not too long I shoudn't think what with all the cats and birds out there..Why? have you lost one? Or let it out?!

---

Most wild hamsters originate in Russia and they don't live very long at all. Pet hamsters can live a couple years if you take care of them inside. I wouldn't think an escapee pet hamster would do too well if it got out.

---

There are wild hamsters, in parts of Asia, unfortunately they are becoming more rare. They live for a couple of years in the wild, but a domestic hamster that has escaped is unlikely to live long due to predators and that it will find it difficult to get natural food.

---

if it escaped in the house- until it had caused major damage- in the wild (outside) probably not that long!!