European hamster (Cricetus cricetus), Vienna.
Image: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Mammals
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The European (common) hamster is a large, boldly coloured wild hamster of farmland, once so common it was treated as a pest. It is now assessed as Critically Endangered.
Its numbers have crashed dramatically in just a few decades.
Range & habitat
Farmland and grassland across parts of Europe and western Asia.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Intensive agriculture
- Loss of habitat and food
- A collapsing reproductive rate
Why it matters
A once-abundant farmland animal now on the edge of extinction, the European hamster is a striking warning about the impact of intensive agriculture on common wildlife.
Up-listed to Critically Endangered in 2020 after steep declines across Europe.
Gallery
European hamster (Cricetus cricetus).
Image: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources
Sources for European Hamster
- IUCN Red List — look up European Hamster (authoritative status)
- Animal Diversity Web
Frequently Asked Questions
How can a former pest become Critically Endangered?
Why is the European hamster Critically Endangered?
Last updated: