More info: Hamsters are small rodents native to parts of Europe, Asia and the Middle East. They are related to voles, lemmings and mice, but unlike the common house pets, wild hamsters are more aggressive.

Some wild hamsters, like the black-bellied hamster that lives in parts of Europe, cannot be tamed and grows much larger. Hamsters in the wild may burrow deep underground. Syrian and Mongolian hamsters sometimes burrow down to ten feet or more in order to avoid high desert temperatures and since hamsters do not have sweat glands, it is important that they are able to keep cool. Some hamsters, like those who come from more northern regions such as Austria and Russia, will have long fur to keep them warm in winter. If it gets too cold, hamsters will hibernate, only waking periodically to eat.