Hamsters are rodents, a bit like a mouse, and have become established as popular small house pets.

In the wild, hamsters stay underground during the day. They feed on seeds, fruits, and vegetation, and occasionally eat burrowing insects.

They have really short tails, and very large cheek pouches in which they carry food back to their homes.

Here are a few interesting facts about hamsters.

• Hamsters come from the desert. If you keep a hamster, make sure the room is never too cold and keep the cage away from windy places.

• Hamsters love to exercise. A tiny hamster's body is full of energy that they want to burn off on a spinning wheel that they have in their cage.

• Hamsters don't take baths in water. They have special oils in their furs and sometimes groom themselves by taking sand baths!

These little critters are available to check out for a 2-week period to help enhance teaching activities or to keep as a classroom pet through the Living Science Material Center CO-OP page.