missing hamster

Question
my sons hamster disappeared under the floorboards 9 weeks ago, ever since then we have dropped food into every hole possible so he doesnt starve, we have read that hamsters can turn up weeks/months after they escape which is one reason why we havent given up on him., we have not heard any scratching at night since he went and even worse we have now attracted mice under the floorboards (which we have been catching in humane traps just incase the hamster is still about). do you think that the hamster is dead and should we now give up ? the fact that we have attracted mice makes me think that he is dead as surely they would stay away if he was there? would they kill him? its horrible not knowing whats happened to him but we no longer leave any food as we dont want the mice back, should we give up now

Answer
Hi Rachel

I'm really sorry to hear about your hamster.  I suppose in many ways I would never want to give up hope of finding a hamster, no matter how long since they disappeared, but the sad reality is that the longer the time period, the less chance of finding him.

It is a shame that the food you have been putting down has attracted mice.  As hamsters hoard food is there any chance that he has hoarded so much that he doesn't need to come out and explore?  If so, stopping the food might persuade him to find a way out in search of something to eat.  I definitely wouldn't block up any holes in the floorboards, just in case.  Hamsters are incredibly agile and can get into tiny spaces, so he may be squeezing through a hole you didn't think he could get through. If you do end up putting any more food out - put something like sunflower seeds and count how many you put down so that you know for sure if any have disappeared, rather than a small pile of food.

It is hard to know how he would react if he saw a mouse - I suspect it would end in a fight which could be serious.  Although I have had escaped hamsters before and they have come face to face with my guinea pigs and rabbits and lived to tell the tale - so you never know.

I don't want to give you false hope as realistically I would think there is a pretty slim chance of finding him now, but I never like to give up on any animal, just in case!

Regards

Sheila