Where does the European hamster live?
The European hamster lives in grassland and similar habitats across much of Eurasia, from Belgium to Xinjiang in China. It is the only hamster living in the wild in Western Europe. It can still be found notably in eastern France, in Alsace, and in Belgium, where it is on the brink of disappearing.
What does the European hamster eat?
It is the largest living hamster, and the only living species in its genus. It reaches 20 to 30 cm in length, with a relatively short tail of 4 to 6 cm, and typically weighs 200 to 650 g, though exceptionally over 1 kg has been recorded. Its fur is moulted once per year. Its upper lip has numerous whiskers, around 30 on each side, each 3.2 to 6.5 cm long.
Is the European hamster endangered?
Yes: the IUCN lists it as Critically Endangered. Historically considered a farmland pest, it was trapped for its fur. Its population has declined drastically in recent years. The main threats are thought to be intensive agriculture, habitat destruction and persecution by farmers. In 2009 the European Commission counted it among the most threatened mammals of Europe.
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