When an English hamster owner posted on Facebook that hamsters, too, can hibernate, the Internet freaked out.
An English mom recently learned firsthand that pet hamsters can hibernate much like bears and other hibernating animals, and wrote a Facebook post, which is receiving mixed reviews and even a few conspiracy theories!
According to the Daily Mail, Lisa Goodman and her daughter Lillie were actually mourning Lillie's pet hamster Fudge, when he rose from - what they believed to be - the dead.
Goodman quickly learned that little Fudge was simply hibernating in a dormant state, a natural reaction to the cold evenings spent in the family's living room. (He has since been relocated to a warmer part of the house.)
Intending only to warn others to carefully inspect their furry friends before burying them, Goodman's post sparked a firestorm, leaving thousands of commenters to wonder if they may have done the unthinkable and buried their beloved pets before their time had actually come.
Goodman told the news outlet:
"Some people have been commenting and remembering their pet hamsters they have buried in the past and wondering if they buried them while they were still alive. I have had a few people reach out to me and tell me that I'm wrong and making people panic over something that isn't true."
One such commenter, Ugonna Nwankpa, stated: "Omg now I'm stay [sic] up all night thinking if we buried Matthew alive."
While sending people into a panic was never Goodman's intention, she stands by her decision to spread the word about hamster hibernation and encourages hamster owners everywhere to know the signs of a true hibernation state including a slower heart rate and a lower body temperature.
If it's determined that your hamster is simply in a deep sleep, Goodman suggests keeping it as warm as possible with extra bedding and nesting material or even a hot water bottle or heating pad. Also, keep fresh food and water available and simply wait for them to arise on their own.
Have you ever seen your hamster hibernate in cold temperatures? Tell us in the comments!
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