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Field hamster rescue in Göttingen: 24 animals start new lives!
In Göttingen, 24 endangered field hamsters were successfully released into the wild in order to stabilize and protect their population.
Field hamster rescue in Göttingen: 24 animals start new lives!
In Göttingen, the little builders of the meadows – the field hamsters – are doing better again. Today 24 of these cute rodents were released into the wild in the south of the city. The action was carried out by the AG Field Hamster Protection Lower Saxony was launched and pursues the ambitious goal of building a stable population of around 100 animals. Through their lifestyle, these fluffy fellows contribute to the fertility of the soil and are at the same time an important source of food for birds of prey such as red kites. But the decline in their population is worrying, not least because of the inappropriate planting of fields.
The field where the hamsters now live covers two hectares and has been secured with an electric fence to keep foxes away. In order to make the move as pleasant as possible for the animals, they were moved into cages equipped with familiar hay and a loophole. These boxes not only offer protection from birds of prey, but also make it easier for the hamsters to get used to their new environment. The animals from Hildesheim, which have names like Flora, Axel and Cleo, are now part of a comprehensive protection project that is monitored closely. The plan is to manage the area in a hamster-friendly manner, where the rodents can hide and find food.
Successes and challenges
The good news is that field hamsters were successfully released into the wild under similar conditions last year. It is estimated that around ten of these animals survived the winter, bringing the population to around 30. However, release into the wild only makes up part of the overall program. According to the National Geographic There are other protected habitats with a total area of 55 hectares that are managed for the European hamsters. Winter grains and other nutritious plants are said to thrive here, providing the little fur-bearing animals with enough food even in winter.
It is particularly pleasing that the field hamster protection projects launched in Northern Saxony in 2025 were also very well received. 15 field hamsters have already been successfully released into the wild with the aim of integrating up to 200 animals. Last year, 71 European hamsters enjoyed new habitats, while scientific monitoring documented over 200 burrows on the release areas. Leipzig Zoo, who is involved in this large-scale project, emphasizes that the optimal living conditions on the areas are crucial for the success of the repatriations.
A long-term plan
The challenge for the future remains to create further corridors that connect different European hamster areas in order to ensure long-term survival. In this context, even more farmers need to be won over to the projects. Success depends not only on the release into the wild, but also on the creation of a suitable habitat outside of the protected areas that ensures the survival of the rodents.
The numerous initiatives and the skilful handling of feeding the field hamsters prove that the continued management and preservation of their habitat is of the utmost importance. We need the commitment of interested farmers and nature conservation organizations all the more so that the European hamster has a good future in Lower Saxony and beyond.