Sammy!

Question
QUESTION: Hi Jen, I adopted a adult gerbil from a rescue center in July of 07. He'd been abandoned in an empty house and was quite skinny when located. I let him out of the cage often a sit on the floor with him as he runs around and plays. He will take sunflower seeds from my hand...even jumping up onto my hand to retrieve one and he will jump up on my lap. He will let me stroke his head and back while he's eating a seed but as far as trying to pick him up...he's terrified. I picked him up only momentarily twice and he froze and started churping like a baby bird. He was obviously distraught, so I put him down again. I am not able to take him out of his cage without making it available to him to return to on his own or he is very nervous. When I clean his cage I have to wail for him to come out into a carrier on his own before I can do it. I don't want to chase him around, I think that would cause a big step back.  What else can I do to get him to the next level. He's a little on the chunky side now (3.8 oz), so I'd like to be able to have him come out for some fun without having to bribe him with treats all the time. (I use the sunflower seeds from his food as treats, I set them aside instead of putting them in his cage when I feed him). Any Ideas?  Thanks.

ANSWER:  Dear KJ,
Hmmm, I've never had this kind of problem, a gerbils jumping on my lap   How are you picking him up? A few times just lay your hands (flat) in the cage and let him crawl on. If he doesn't come,try laying a sunflower seed in your hand. (Try not to use the seeds to much, as, sadly, they are high in fat for gerbils) When he crawls on cup your hands gently but firmly around him, and take your hands out of the cage. This has worked with all of my gerbils. If it doesn't work for you, follow-up and tell exactly what you are doing when you try to pick him up.
Hope I've helped.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi again, I guess it will just take time. He doesn't stay on my hand long enough to cup my hands around him, he runs away. The two times I've picked him up he was eating a seed (while out for a run on the floor) and I petted his sides with my one hand (thumb and forefinger), he didn't seem bothered by it, so I slipped my fingers around him and lifted him into my other hand.
But when I did that he started squeeking these high pitched squeeks and he froze, it happened both times. I don't know how old he actually is and it seems to me he was likely never handled by the people who abandoned him. When I initially got him he would not even come out of his cage. Eventually he would take seeds from me and let me touch his head and then he would climb up on me when I was seated on the floor. We have made definite progress just not the picking up part. He seems okay as long as he knows he can escape.  I've also rescued 3 hamsters and tamed them no problem...but this little guy seems to be a special case. He's otherwise very happy and has a lovely large cage with lots of things to do.  May be I've given him to much free range...he doesn't actually have to let me touch him to come out and play, may be he likes it that way? Thanks again.

Answer
 Some hamsters are like that. He probably just doesn't like being held. The high-pitched squeaking noises and standing very still means he feels he is being threatened or there is a predator nearby. Maybe he was abused as a baby from his previous owners, so he is afraid he will get hurt if he is held.
It's good that you have given him a large cage and lots of toys, he's sounds very happy. I think everything you are doing is fine, don't change anything. Just keep working with him. Little steps. Hopefully he will find that you are not a threat and will eventually allow you to hold him without a problem. Hope everything works out. I think it is great you have rescued so many hamsters from shelters, there are lots of abandoned and unwanted hamsters out there...:/