Did you know that hamsters can not tell the difference between a 2 foot drop and a 10 foot drop?
Hamsters can't tell the difference in heights. This is because they came from the desert where there are no sudden drops. They originally lived underground in burrows and in the desert they would not be put in a situation where they will need to jump down from somewhere, so they had no need to tell the difference in heights.
This means that you have to be careful when holding your hamster, especially if your hamster is frightened in any way. (if he/she is new then she is more likely to jump too)
Hamsters can withstand falling from high heights, but even so it is not good for your hamster and there is always the risk of injuries. It is best to be safe and be careful.
| THIS PHOTO IS NOT WILLOW. It's from here. |
WAYS TO AVOID HAMSTER INJURIES WHEN HANDLING:
- When holding your hamster, hold him or her near the floor, or sit on a sofa where your hamster could jump onto.
. - If going up/down the stairs with your hamster, gently cup your hands over him or her so that they can not suddenly jump out your hands.
. - Always keep your eyes on your hamster when handling them - don't get distracted and look away too long otherwise they could jump off the sofa or jump from your hands etc.
Wally knows there is a drop if he is on my hands or a table, but I agree, he doesn't know how far it is! :D But he is VERY careful about going off of my hand. He is halfway/all the way blind so he likes to reach his head out to see if there is another place he can walk to of my hand. :D
ReplyDeleteWillow is also careful before jumping. She kind of braces herself, but then she steps down anyway, even if there is a big drop. She doesn't really jump, she just kind of 'steps'. Wally sounds really sweet!
DeleteHow interesting. I didn't know that.
ReplyDeleteSo that’s why whenever I let them play on my table, they crawl in a weird way! And when they go near the edge, they stop, look down and move away. :D
ReplyDelete