Saw a mink on personal plot- it means that pest rodents have come to visit you. There are many digging species of animals, and all of them are dangerous for the economy in their own way. Depending on belonging to a particular species, it is necessary to build a method for combating rodents. The description and photo will help to identify them.

Signs of rodents. What you need to know about them

Rodents are hares, rats, mice, etc. There are more than 1700 species of them. All wild species also belong to the category of rodents, pests, but not all of them can be found on the site. Those that you find in the country will be medium-sized (8-35 cm). All rodents are capable of causing serious damage to the crop on your site. If they start up in the garden, it is easy to determine this by the following signs:

  • damaged (gnawed) bark on the trunk and shoots, branches, buds, roots;
  • a network of holes in the ground, eating underground elements of bulbous plants;
  • destruction of the crop in the process of ripening and its stocks during storage.

Attention! Pests of the garden are also considered shrews with moles, which are not included in the category of rodents. They are insectivorous and cause damage to garden crops by digging root system. On the other hand, along the paths of these pests, mice massively penetrate the site, which attack the crop.

Pest mice: classification

Mice do not like people and rarely settle in houses, but willingly come for food to inhabited and well-groomed areas. Varieties of rodent pests:

  • Forest mouse. Has a body 9-11 cm long and short tail, up to 10 cm. Natural habitat: forests, gardens, fields, meadows. For life digs a deep hole. Moves by jumping. The diet of the rodent includes greens of garden crops, seeds, insects.
  • Yellow-throated mouse. The body is 10-12 cm long with a rather long tail, up to 13 cm. There is a characteristic yellow spot in the region of the rodent's abdomen. This mouse also does not run, but jumps, climbs well. It lives in a nest, which it builds in hollows or burrows. It feeds in the same way as the forest.
  • Harvest mouse. Short body (average 10 cm), short tail (up to 9 cm), black stripe on gray back. In winter, it lives in warehouses and barns, in nature it settles in fields, forests and gardens. The rodent is characterized by average fertility (4 litters of 6-8 mice per year). It feeds on earthworms and productive horticultural crops.
  • House mouse. Body length - 8-11 cm, tail - no more than 9 cm. Very prolific (up to 7-8 litters of 8 cubs per year). A group of mice lives in large families that unanimously attack people's plots and dwellings. They live in fields, in gardens, in autumn they move to residential buildings. Rodents pests feed on plants and invertebrates.

Voles: varieties and harm

The vole has similar characteristics to other mice. Its feature is a dark stripe on the back, slight differences in the muzzle, and a shorter tail. Classification of the type of rodent pests with names:

  • Vole ordinary. The body is about 9-12 cm long and has a very short tail (4 cm). The fur is grey. The rodent multiplies intensively. Young mice reach sexual maturity very quickly. On the basis of family ties, colonies arise, for which individuals build an extensive network of tunnels with pantries and other compartments. The rodent feeds exclusively on plants and grain.
  • Field vole. The length of the calf is about 11 cm, the tail is about 4 cm. It has looser and longer fur than common vole. Color - brown. Rodent minks should be looked for in dense grass. He loves plants and can covet the succulent bark of young trees.
  • Red vole. Length - up to 11 cm, tail - up to 6 cm. It has a characteristic red coat. It can live both underground and in some kind of shelter on the surface. The rodent is not very fertile as for mice. Eats bark, plants and grains, insects and invertebrates.

Other rodents garden pests

From the category of rodents, pests are especially dangerous rats. Many of them can attack domestic animals, damage property, carry diseases and be aggressive towards humans. For example, a gray rat (pasyuk) reaches 27 cm in length and has a tail up to 23 cm. The coat can be gray and black. This rodent builds passages in almost any terrain.

Attention! The offspring of one female gray rat is 6-9 individuals 2-3 times a year.

The black rat is slightly smaller and less prolific. The color of the fur contains brown colors. The rodent can build a dwelling even on a tree, because it climbs well. Less dangerous than gray, because it prefers plant foods.

Rats are sometimes referred to as water voles. An adult reaches 20 cm. The tail lengthens the body by another 6-13 cm. The color of the rodent is brown-gray, sometimes black. It swims well (including under water), so it often settles near water bodies. Dimensions allow the rodent to eat not only garden greens and seeds, but also roots with root crops. The water rat builds its extensive network of passages under the surface of the earth. Offspring - about 14 cubs 2-3 times a year.

Methods of struggle against mice and rats differ from each other. Therefore, by correctly identifying the type of rodent pests, you will find best way problem solving.

Rodents on the site: video

Rodents are the most numerous class of mammals of the chordate type. More than a third of the species of all mammals belong to rodents. hallmark representative of rodents is the presence of two pairs of large well-developed incisors, which are constantly growing and, due to the special structure, are sharpened throughout the life of the animal. These incisors are essential for rodents to feed, burrow, defend against enemies, and attack.

More than 2 thousand species of these animals are known in the world, which are combined into suborders (squirrel-like, porcupine-like, mouse-like), each of which is divided into families (about 30 in total). The most numerous suborder is murine, in particular the family of hamsters, which includes voles, hamsters, gerbils (half of the species of the fauna of Russia and Ukraine). Widely known families are squirrel, beaver, pig-like, nutria, chinchilla, jerboa, mouse. Representatives of rodents - mice, rats, chipmunks, beavers, Guinea pigs, muskrats, nutrias, marmots, jerboas, ground squirrels, squirrels, etc.

Paleontologists believe that in the process of evolution, rodents descended from common ancestors with insectivorous animals. Fossils found in layers of the Paleocene period Cretaceous(about 60 million years ago). Currently, the closest "relatives" of rodents in terms of structure and lifestyle are representatives of the order of lagomorphs.

Rodents are distributed throughout the Earth, except for Antarctica, inhabiting all habitats. This group of animals is most diverse and numerous in open areas of the temperate and subtropical zones. Most rodents are terrestrial animals. Among them are semi-aquatic species that are able to swim and dive perfectly. Some rodents (flying squirrels) live in trees and move by flying from branch to branch. Hollows, rock crevices, burrows are used as shelters. Most species of these animals are active throughout the year. Some species living in cold climates fall into hibernation of varying duration when the temperature drops.

Rodents are animals of small, rarely medium sizes. The largest representative is the capybara, or capybara, which lives in South America. The body length of the capybara reaches 1.5 m, and the weight is 60 kg. The smallest animal is the baby mouse. Its length is up to 5 cm. The teeth are adapted to the processing of solid plant foods. They feed mainly vegetable feed- fruits, seeds, green parts of plants, wood and bark. Only a few species have switched to feeding on insects and other invertebrates, such as rats.

Appearance is very diverse due to differences in lifestyle. The structure of the body, the size of the limbs, the tail, the shape of the auricles in different types rodents. The limbs of most rodents are plantigrade or semi-stopigrade. The tail may be absent, as in guinea pigs, or may be longer than the body, as in mice and jerboas. The hairline is well developed, in some species the hairs are modified into needles. Cover coloring various kinds varied.

The structure of the teeth of all rodents is similar. This is a characteristic feature of all representatives of the detachment. They have one pair of enlarged incisors on the upper and lower jaws. The incisors are constantly growing and grinding. Due to the fact that the front surface is covered with enamel and the back with dentin, the teeth are capable of self-sharpening when the animal gnaws something. Rodents do not have fangs, and the incisors are located at a certain distance from the molars. The gap between the incisors and molars is called the diastema.

The brain is relatively large, but the cerebral hemispheres are underdeveloped, have a smooth surface and do not cover the cerebellum. digestive tract rodents in connection with the use of coarse plant foods has characteristics buildings. It is quite long, there is a caecum, where food undergoes long-term digestion by fermentation. The stomach is simple or multi-chambered.

Rodents are able to reproduce at an incredible rate. Most species give several (up to 7-8) litters during the year, and each can have up to 10-15 cubs. The number of rodents can change dramatically, increasing during periods of mass reproduction by 100 or more times.

The value of rodents in nature is enormous, as they are food for many animals. Many species are pests of agricultural crops, in particular, cereals. Some species can be carriers of helminths and pathogens infectious diseases human (plague, tularemia, encephalitis). Therefore, in order to limit the number of rodent pests, they are being fought, destroying them by biological, chemical, and mechanical methods. Among rodents there are fur-bearing animals with valuable fur - nutria, muskrat.

At least once in a lifetime, every person caught himself thinking about the need to have a pet. However, the lack of space or time often causes the purchase of a cat or dog to be postponed indefinitely. For those who have little free time and a fear of mess, buying a pet rodent is a great way out.

Popular domestic rodents

Domestic rodents are very popular pets, especially with children. However, before buying an animal, you need to weigh all the pros and cons of each animal and choose the perfect little friend for yourself.


Hamsters are perhaps the most popular domestic rodents, and this is not strange, because they are extremely unpretentious cute animals. These rodents are of two types: ordinary (large) and dwarf. The color of the animal depends on its breed and habitat and varies from gray to brown tones. It is customary to start hamsters one at a time, because this is how they live in wild nature, and therefore a companion will always be perceived as a competitor, even if they are of different sexes.

Important! The hamster will not immediately become a tame animal. However, his trust is very easy to get thanks to the goodies that must be given from hand to paw.

Guinea pigs are also quite common as a pet. Cute large rodent has many colors and most often several colors are combined in the form of shapeless spots on the fur coat of the animal.

Pigs are very sociable animals that are always glad to their owner and willingly show him their feelings. They say that if something happened to the owner, the little friend knows how to sympathize. And to make a pet happy in return is quite simple: pigs do not tolerate loneliness, so it is better to buy a pair at once, and in order to avoid the appearance of unwanted offspring - a same-sex one.
It is important to remember that this animal is very emotional and with any sharp sound or severe stress, the pig's heart can literally burst.

Decorative rabbits have been very popular since the last century. It is a domesticated relative of the wild European rabbit.

Did you know?The spiny mice, which live in the Middle East and Africa, have unique regeneration abilities for mammals: in case of danger, they shed their skin, which then grows back along with their hair.

Long ears, a cute muzzle and a variety of colors depending on the breed will not leave anyone indifferent. The owners of these animals literally they will melt with tenderness when communicating with rabbits, because the nature of this animal is very friendly and almost never aggressive.

Best of all, rabbits live alone, but if there is a desire to have offspring, then it is better to keep the female and male separately from each other.
Oddly enough, rabbits are very devoted animals, but for this the owner needs to be given to the beast a large number of time and endlessly stroke, and treat your pet. If desired, these animals can be trained, but this must be done in the form of a game.

Chinchillas have become popular relatively recently. These incredible animals are originally from America, but, unfortunately, in many countries they are bred for commercial purposes - fur coats are sewn from their fur. But many people get this animal as a pet and often buy them a pair or more, because these rodents are incredibly cute, friendly and watching them play is a real pleasure.

Chinchillas come in several colors: the most popular are gray and black representatives, the more rare ones are white and beige. The nature of this rodent depends on whether he was born in a family or on a farm, because a beast that communicates with people from childhood will be open and curious, while one that lived only among fellows will be quiet and secretive.

Important!Chinchillas really dislike being squeezed against their will. If the animal wants affection, he will easily let you know about it, and if you forcefully try to keep him, you can get a well-aimed stream of urine (the animal expresses its displeasure with this).

Chipmunks are a rarity in pet stores in Russia and Ukraine, but with a strong desire, you can buy them on special farms. These babies are very similar to squirrels, however, there are five characteristic black stripes on their back, thanks to which it is simply impossible to confuse a chipmunk with any other rodent.

Chipmunks are very sociable, active pets, often not afraid of a person if he behaves quietly, neatly and without sudden movements. Taming a baby is quite simple: you need to constantly give him a treat and always from your hands, then he will remember that a person does not pose a threat to him, but, on the contrary, is a source of food.

You need to be prepared for the fact that chipmunks love to stock up, and therefore, even after having a hearty lunch, this sly one will beg for more nuts and other goodies.

Many do not like rats, because they think that these animals carry dirt and dangerous infections. So it is, but this does not apply to decorative (domestic) rats. These animals are extremely clean and tidy, they know where their home is, and they can even follow many commands. Rats are animals that differ in intelligence and ingenuity. They know their nickname, they easily remember the command “come to me” or “no”.


The colors of these animals are many, but the most popular are albino rats (white with red eyes).

Important! A serious drawback of this pet is its rather short life span - 2-3 years.

The Chilean degu squirrel is a representative of South American rodents. The appearance of this animal combines several of its brethren: squirrel, chinchilla and jerboa. The color of the coat is usually dark or light brown, less often gray.
These squirrels are very popular as pets because they are extremely friendly., quickly become attached to a person and become his real friends. With the right upbringing, degus can be trained.

Start a degu better in pairs because in the wild they live in families. The ideal option would be to buy from two to five individuals.

The gerbil is a small rodent with a long, hairy tail. The color of this animal is very diverse: from light to dark tones of brown. This animal is very active and inquisitive, and caring for it will not be difficult.

Gerbils in the wild move quickly so as not to become the prey of snakes, and therefore, if you want to release the baby, you need to prepare the room well (hide all objects that can be gnawed and close all the cracks).

Did you know? Many species of mice lack clavicles, so the animals can crawl into rather narrow places.

Features of caring for domestic rodents

Despite the fact that rodents are one of the most unpretentious animals, each animal has certain needs and features in care that must be taken into account.

Climatic conditions

People used to think that room temperature is optimal for all animals, and they feel comfortable in it, but this is not entirely true. Most domestic rodents love warmth. Hamsters and mice will feel great in a room with a temperature of 24 ... 25 degrees. But guinea pigs need a stable 20 ... 22 degrees, otherwise they will often get sick.

Rabbits and chinchillas are relatively unpretentious, any temperature in the apartment is suitable for them, but drafts are highly undesirable for these pets. The chipmunk, being a tropical rodent, loves warmth and also cannot stand drafts.

housing requirements

Rodents can be conditionally divided into terrestrial and those who jump on trees. Depending on this, you need to equip your pet with a house.

Hamsters, guinea pigs and gerbils do not require special conditions. A small metal cage is suitable for them, but it is desirable that it has a couple of floors (the beast cannot sit in one place). You also need to buy a wooden house (or make it out of cardboard) and a wheel in which the fluffy can warm up.
Rabbits can live in small enclosures, but they must be given time when they can walk around the room. Locked up, this animal will quickly wither away.

Chinchillas and squirrels are skilled jumpers. They need tall cages with wooden shelves at different heights that they can jump back and forth on. A high cage with a house and a wheel is also suitable for a chipmunk.

Important! Since all these animals are not in vain called rodents, it is important that the walls of the dwelling are not made of painted or chemically treated material, since the animal can simply get poisoned and die.

Nutrition

Most rodents can do just fine with the food that is sold at the pet store, because it is balanced and contains all the microelements necessary for health and life. However, kids need to be pampered with something. For example, raw carrots and dry apples will not harm the pet, but cabbage should be discarded. Dried fruits are suitable for both large rodents and small ones (except for raisins).

Also, various nuts (peanuts, hazelnuts, almonds, cashews) will be an excellent delicacy (especially for squirrels and chipmunks). The main thing is that the nuts should be raw, in no case fried. Chocolate is contraindicated for all rodents, especially those who hide food in their bosoms.

Rodent in the house: is it worth getting a pet

If a child asks for a pet, and a cat or dog is too troublesome a friend, a rodent is a great alternative.

Advantages

Among the positive aspects of keeping rodents at home are:

  1. The main advantage of rodents is their hypoallergenicity, because most of them do not cause allergies at all. For example, chinchilla is one of the few animals that sheds, but wool does not cause allergic reactions even in the most severe allergies.
  2. The rodent takes up little space and does not require round-the-clock care.
  3. All animals choose a place for themselves "under the toilet" and do not crap anywhere.
  4. Pets will quickly become tame if you give them as much free time as possible for the first few days.
  5. Watching these adorable kids play is a pleasure.

Did you know? The largest rodent in the world is the capybara. Its weight can reach 91 kilograms.

Flaws

There are bad moments too:

  1. The main disadvantage of the rodent is its natural reflex to gnaw everything. When releasing a pet, you need to make sure that wires and other important items are not available to him.
  2. Not all inhabitants of cells can boast of high intelligence.
  3. These mammals have a very short life.

 So, having studied the lifestyle and character of all domestic gnawing mammals, we can conclude that these animals are a great alternative for those who want to make a friend and do not have the opportunity to constantly go for a walk or clean the tray. Domestic rodent - pledge good mood and even a child can take care of it.

Types of hamsters

If you decide to get a small fluffy pet, you should know that, unlike a dog, he will not become your servant or property. The hamster will simply live next to you and communicate with people only when he wants to. The word "master" does not exist for him, and, alas, you will have to come to terms with this.

Most hamsters in the wild are fairly large animals. The body length of individual individuals reaches 30 cm. Keeping them at home, as a rule, is very problematic.

In the family of hamsters, there is also a genus of hamsters, numbering 5-7 species, distributed mainly in the forest-steppe and steppe zones Europe and North Asia. The size of these animals is small: their body length does not exceed 15 cm. Many of them do not require complex care, so they are domesticated and successfully kept in captivity.

common hamster

The common hamster is a very beautiful animal. Its coat is painted in bright colors: the back and sides are red, the abdomen is black, the paws and nose are white, and there are 3 white spots on the chest and sides of the head. Occasionally there are specimens with black and white and almost black color. The body length of the animal is 25-30 cm.

Ordinary hamsters live in the steppe and forest-steppe zones of southern Europe, Western Siberia, in northern Kazakhstan and east of these regions, up to the Yenisei, sometimes penetrate further north. Animals willingly settle on the outskirts of fields and gardens.

Hamsters dig solid burrows, the depth of which sometimes reaches 2.5 m. In them they arrange numerous pantries connected by tunnels, as well as nesting chambers. At the end of summer, animals begin to stock up for the winter, filling their pantries with grain, potatoes, carrots, corn, and other similar products.

The mass of stored food usually reaches 10-20 kg, although there have been cases when up to 90 kg of grain was found in the storerooms of hamsters. These reserves are necessary for animals to feed in winter, when they periodically wake up, and when they are satisfied, they again hibernate. In addition, this food will come in handy for animals in the spring, when there is not enough food.

In summer, hamsters feed on grasses, roots, plant seeds, catch and eat insects, and sometimes small animals, such as mice. Rodents are active at night. If an enemy (a fox, a dog or a person) unexpectedly blocks the hamster's path into its hole, it can rush at the enemy and bite him painfully.

From April to October, females have 2 or 3 broods, numbering from 10 to 20 cubs. During the period of mass reproduction, hamsters cause significant damage to the fields, so they have to be exterminated. Animal skins are used as cheap furs.

rat-like hamster

The rat-shaped hamster is found in Primorye, Korea and China. It settles, as a rule, in river valleys. The body length of the animal is 18-25 cm. Distinctive feature of this species is a rather long tail. Its length, equal to 7-10 cm, is usually less than the length of the body of the animal by about 2 times. The tail is gray-brown in color, and below and at the tip it is lighter than above. In contrast to the longer rat tail, the tail of rat hamsters is pubescent and does not have transverse rings. This species of rodents differs from water rats and large voles in its large ears and colored White color paws.

Compared to other representatives of the genus, the rat-like hamster digs the most difficult holes. In its pantries, the animal accumulates large stocks of seeds or grain from nearby fields. He feeds on this food throughout the winter. In summer, rat-like hamsters eat the seeds of herbaceous plants, as well as greens and animal food. Rodents breed from April to October. During this period, the female manages to feed 2-3 broods, the number of cubs in which sometimes reaches 20, but usually there are from 8 to 10.

gray hamster

The gray hamster lives on the territory of the European part of Russia north to the Moscow region and the mouth of the Kama and Oka, as well as in the Caucasus and the south of Western Siberia to the foothills of Altai in the east. Prefers grass and wormwood steppes, semi-fixed sands, areas of dry mountain steppes, agricultural lands. Sometimes the animal can be found in urban buildings. The hamster was brought to Moscow, and feral individuals took root in some areas of the city (for example, at the Belorussky railway station).

The gray hamster is a small, short-tailed animal. The length of his body is 9.5-13 cm, and the tail is 2-3.5 cm. The ears of the hamster are relatively small, rounded; muzzle pointed; feet are slightly pubescent, finger tubercles are clearly visible on them; the tail is covered with short hairs.

Body coloration gray hamster it can be smoky gray, dark gray or brownish gray, less often - reddish-sandy. In some individuals, a dark stripe runs along the head and tail, painted to match the main color. On the abdomen, the fur is light gray or white, on the paws is white.

The food of the animal is mainly immature seeds and inflorescences of wild and cultivated plants. In addition, the hamster feeds on terrestrial mollusks, beetles, ants, grasshoppers, and insect larvae.

For the winter, the animals store a lot of food, but in hibernation only those animals that live in the north of the range and in high mountainous regions flow into it.

Hamsters breed from April to October. During this period, the female manages to feed 2-3 broods. There are from 3 to 10 cubs in a litter, but most often 7 are born.

Gray hamsters are kept at home. The rules for caring for them are the same as for Syrian hamsters.

The Daurian hamster is found in the steppe and forest-steppe zones in the territory from the Irtysh to Transbaikalia, as well as in the meadows of Southern Primorye. The length of the body of the animal is from 8 to 13 cm, the tail is 2-3.5 cm. The hamster prefers to make holes on the edges, in beams, bushes, on the outskirts of fields, and in the sandy steppes its favorite habitat is thickets of caragana.

The coat of the Dahurian hamster is brown or reddish. A black stripe runs along the forehead and along the back of the animal. The belly is gray, the ears are with a white border.

The animal feeds on seeds, eats insects. The hamster does not hibernate for the whole winter. Usually he periodically falls asleep for several days, but during periods of wakefulness he hardly leaves the mink.

long-tailed hamster

The long-tailed hamster lives in the mountain steppes of Tuva, Sayan Mountains and Southwestern Transbaikalia. The animal prefers to settle on the rocky slopes of the mountains, on talus and in the rocks. He arranges burrows under stones among the rocks.

The length of the body of a long-tailed hamster is 9-12 cm, the tail is 3-5 cm. The fur of the animal is most often dark gray, sometimes with a redhead, on the abdomen - light gray. The ears, like those of the Daurian hamster, are bordered by a thin white stripe. The tail is dark gray above and light gray below.

The long-tailed hamster feeds on plant seeds. He especially likes seeds of wild almonds, caragana and cereals. Willingly eats animals and insects. In winter, it hibernates only occasionally.

The breeding season for long-tailed hamsters lasts from April to August. The number of cubs in a litter ranges from 4 to 9.

Eversman's hamster

The habitat of the Eversmann hamster is quite extensive. The animal is distributed in the territory from the Middle and Lower Volga to the upper reaches of the Lena River in the east and south to Aral Sea. He prefers to settle in the wormwood steppes, on solonetzes, virgin lands and the outskirts of plowed lands. The hamster never arranges his minks in over-moistened places.

Eversmann's hamster is slightly larger than the average house mouse. He has very little ponytail and short legs. The muzzle of the animal is slightly pointed, the ears are small, with rounded tips, the soles of the paws are slightly pubescent, with clearly visible digital tubercles, the tail is slightly compacted, covered with dense short and soft hairs, expanding at the base.

Eversmann's hamster is characterized by a variety of colors. The color of the fur on the back varies from black and white to ash-sandy and fawn-red. The pure white color of the abdomen contrasts sharply with the dark fur on the sides. On the neck and between the front legs on the chest there is a clearly marked spot of brownish or ocher color. The legs and underside of the tail are white. The short coat of a hamster is surprisingly soft and velvety.

The animal feeds mainly on seeds and shoots of cereal grasses, wormwood, saltwort, tulip bulbs. Occasionally it eats insects and their larvae.

The holes of the Eversmann hamster are relatively simple. They consist of the main passage, which can be inclined or vertical, and a nesting chamber. Some hamsters break through branching snouts.

The breeding season for animals begins in April and ends in September. During this time, the female grows 2-3 litters. There are 4-5 cubs in each litter. Eversmann's hamsters hibernate in October. Often it is intermittent.

Djungarian hamster

The Dzungarian hamster belongs to the genus of upland hamsters. This species has been studied better than others. IN natural conditions the animal is common in the steppes and semi-deserts of Western Siberia, Central and Central Asia, as well as in North-Eastern Kazakhstan.

Djungarian hamsters prefer to settle in xerophytic desert grass, wormwood and cinquefoil steppes without bushes. These animals can also be found in gravelly steppes and semi-fixed sands, occasionally on cultivated lands. IN last years they are firmly established in vivariums scientific institutions and in living areas.

Adult Djungarian hamsters reach a length of 10 cm. The muzzle of the animal is pointed, the ears are small. The soles of the paws are covered with thick hair that hides the digital tubercles. The fur on the back is brownish or ocher-gray. In some animals, it is darker on the sides. The abdomen is light. The border between the coloration of the back and abdomen is distinctly expressed. A narrow black stripe runs along the spine of the Djungarian hamster. His paws are white, his ears are also white on the inside, and black on the outside.

In summer, the color of the animals becomes grayish. In winter, especially when kept in cool rooms, they become almost white, and the spine acquires a silvery-gray color.

Djungarian hamsters are active at dusk and at night. Animals arrange burrows with several entrances, burrows and a nesting chamber. Animals feed mainly on seeds and green parts of herbaceous plants. They also eat insects. Hamsters store seeds for the winter. They do not hibernate. By November-December, the fur of the animals becomes white, thanks to which they can from time to time get out of the minks to the surface.

Representatives of the genus of legged hamsters are very decorative, which include the Dzungarian, Siberian hamsters, as well as the Roborovsky hamster. These animals have thick fur that covers not only the body, but also the soles of the hind legs. In length, these animals reach only 10 cm. They have a very short tail (from 0.8 to 1.5 cm). The ears are black with a white stripe.

The breeding season lasts from March to September. During this time, the female manages to feed 3-4 broods, each of which has 6-8 (sometimes up to 12) cubs. Hamsters reach sexual maturity very early. Having reached the age of 4 months, young animals from the first brood can already breed.

Djungarian hamsters are cute, good-natured animals that live well in captivity.

Siberian hamster

Siberian hamster in his own way appearance very similar to the Dzungarian and belongs to the same genus of furry-legged hamsters. But his coat is much lighter than that of the Djungarian hamster. In winter, she also acquires white color. The Siberian hamster lives in the dry plain and hilly steppes of Tuva. The animal digs holes the same as the Djungarian hamster.

Roborovsky hamster

The Roborovski hamster is the third species of the genus of legged hamsters - lives in loosely fixed sandy deserts, overgrown with caragana. This is a very small animal with a short tail, which is almost invisible under the fluffy fur. The muzzle of the hamster is snub-nosed, the ears are relatively large, rounded, the soles of the paws are densely pubescent. The coloration of the back is pink-fawn, the abdomen and legs are pure white. There are small white spots above the eyes. Black ears have a white border. There are no stripes on the back.

The food for the Roborovsky hamster is mainly beet seeds, caragana, saltwort, cereals, sedges, tulip bulbs. The animal catches and eats insects only occasionally.

Hamsters are active at dusk and at night. Burrows in the sand arrange shallow ones. They consist of 1-2 passages and a nesting chamber. The breeding season lasts from May to September. During this time, the female brings 3-4 litters, each of which has from 3 to 9 cubs.

A few years ago, the Roborovsky hamster gained popularity as a pet. This is an ideal pet, because it is unpretentious to living conditions and does not require complex care.

At the bottom of the metal cage in which the animal settles, a layer of sand 2-3 cm thick is poured, several stones, moss, hay, thin twigs are placed and a box is placed where the animal could hide from prying eyes and rest. As the sand gets dirty, it is replaced with clean sand.

Taylor's dwarf hamster

Taylor's dwarf hamster lives in Arizona, Texas, south Central Mexico, southern Mexico and Central America to Nicaragua. Animals usually live in clearings or grassy edges. Under the thick grass, they lay a network of paths. Rodents nest in small depressions under the protection of a bush or stone.

Dwarf hamsters feed mainly on plant foods - seeds and shoots of grasses, but sometimes they also eat insects. Animals are active at night. The radius of the individual plot of the Taylor hamster is small - about 30 m. On one hectare, there are usually from 15 to 20 individuals.

The smallest of the mouse-like rodents that live in the Americas are dwarf hamsters. Their body length is only 5-8 cm, the tail is slightly shorter. The mass of adults does not exceed 7~8 g. The back of dwarf hamsters is grayish-brown, and the abdomen is light.

Rodents breed all year round. Pregnancy of the female lasts 20 days, after which she gives birth to from 1 to 5 cubs (usually 3). In total, one female can feed up to 10 broods per year. Newborn babies are quite large. Each of them weighs about 1 g. It is interesting that the male of dwarf hamsters does not leave the nest after the birth of offspring. He stays with the female and even helps her take care of the cubs, which is absolutely uncharacteristic for rodents.

After 20 days, young animals leave the nest and begin to live independently. They reach puberty as early as 10 weeks of age.

Dwarf hamsters live well and breed in captivity. These good-natured animals very quickly get used to a person, become tame and very rarely bite. They can be kept in large groups.

Hamsters altiplano

Altiplano hamsters got their name from where they live. They live in the dry high plains of the Andes, from the south of Bolivia to the north of Chile, at an altitude of 4000-4600 m above sea level. They inhabit mainly rocky and rocky areas.

In appearance, these rodents resemble gerbils or mice and rats with well-furred tails. The body length of the animals ranges from 8 to 17 cm. The length of the tail is about the same. The thick and soft fur of Altiplano hamsters is colored in brownish-yellowish tones. Abdomen or breast and neck pure white.

Altiplano hamsters are nocturnal animals. During winter, the animals presumably hibernate, since at this time of the year they do not show any signs of activity. The main food for rodents is insects.

Usually altipla hamsters do not make their own burrows. They settle among stones or occupy other people's nests, often expelling the former owner from them. There are cases of penetration of rodents into human buildings, but human dwellings in such high-altitude areas are very rare.

Golden, or Syrian, hamster

The golden, or Syrian, hamster is one of the best inhabitants of a home living corner. He is unpretentious, hardy and prolific. Moreover, it is very funny animal, which will give you a lot of pleasure with its habits. Since, unlike other types of hamsters, it is the Syrian hamster that has gained the greatest popularity as a pet, in the future we will mainly talk about it.

The golden hamster is a small animal. In size, it is 2 times smaller than a rat. This rodent is very similar to an ordinary hamster. But unlike its large and vicious relative, which brings a lot of harm to people, the Syrian hamster is a completely harmless creature. In addition to becoming one of the most desirable inhabitants of living corners, this animal is indispensable as a laboratory animal for a wide variety of scientific research.

The body length of the golden hamster reaches 17-18 cm. It is stocky. The tail of the animal is very short. The fur on the back is usually reddish-brown, buffy-brown or golden yellow. It is thick, soft and velvety.

The abdomen is light. Currently, breeders have bred several varieties of the Syrian hamster.

In nature, Syrian hamsters prefer to settle in foothill steppe landscapes, meadow steppes and crops. They live alone in burrows, the depth of which reaches 2-2.5 m. Like all their relatives, Syrian hamsters stock up for the winter. They hibernate at a temperature of about 4 ° C.

In captivity, the Syrian hamster lives a little - 2-2.5 years, but with good conditions content can live 3 or even 4 years.

Rodents are the most numerous and widespread order of mammals. It includes about 1600 species, which is more than 40% of the total volume of the world's mammalian fauna. The origin of rodents is associated with primitive insectivores..

Rodents are distributed throughout the globe(except Antarctica and some oceanic islands). They are found in various zones, altitudinal zones and landscapes. In many places, rodents settled after humans.

Most rodents are animals of small and medium size, feeding mainly or exclusively on plant foods. Large forms are few among them. Peculiar to them dental apparatus: no fangs, incisors one in each half of the jaw, very strongly developed; with them, animals bite grass, bark or exfoliate seeds. Indigenous have a flat chewing surface with bumps or loops of enamel and many have no roots. Incisors and molars grow throughout life.

Rodents have long intestine and developed caecum playing the role of fermentation tank". It is especially strongly developed in species that feed on grass and tree bark (for example, in voles). On the contrary, at mice, feeding mainly on seeds, the caecum is less developed.

Most species are characterized by the ability to multiply rapidly, which is associated with early puberty and a large number of cubs born.

Rodents are of great practical importance. Many species are important objects of the fur trade. Among rodents there are many pests of agriculture and species that spread dangerous diseases, for example, the plague.

The breadth of distribution and the diversity of living conditions have determined a large systematic and ecological diversity rodents. Among them are terrestrial, underground, arboreal and semi-aquatic species.

About 35 families are distinguished in the order.

Extensive family squirrel (Sciuridae) includes protein, chipmunks, gophers And marmots.

Squirrels- woody representatives of the family, common in the forests of Eurasia and North America, more than 150 species in total. IN forest areas Russia inhabits common squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris). It was artificially acclimatized in the Crimea, the Caucasus and the Tien Shan.

Squirrels- moving animals. They live in hollows in trees or make nests on branches (“ gayno"). They breed more than twice a year and give birth to up to 10 cubs. They do not hibernate for the winter, but the color of their skin changes - the red squirrel turns gray. Over a vast range, the color of the summer skin of an ordinary squirrel varies from red (in the west) to black (in the east).

They feed mainly on the seeds of coniferous trees, less often on berries and mushrooms. Due to the variability of the yield of coniferous seeds, the number of squirrels varies greatly over the years. In low-feed years, squirrels roam widely in search of food and often run into the vicinity of villages, parks and gardens. Squirrel- an important species in the Russian fur trade.

Close to proteins chipmunks (Tamias), inhabitants of coniferous, mixed and partly broad-leaved forests of the Old and New Worlds. Most of the species are distributed in North America. The way of life is mainly terrestrial, they climb trees well, and take refuge in burrows. They hibernate for the winter. Lives in Russia asian chipmunk (Tamias sibiricus), it inhabits the forests of Siberia and the North-Eastern part of Europe. It differs from the squirrel in its smaller size, striped coloration and less fluffy tail.

The terrestrial group of the family is represented by numerous species gophers And marmots. They are common in the steppe and mountain regions. All species live in burrows, usually in colonies. Unlike squirrels, they reproduce once a year. They feed on grass and seeds, mainly cereals. Most species are harmful to crops and are being controlled. In addition, ground squirrels and marmots are carriers of dangerous diseases, such as plague and tularemia. They hibernate for the winter. In most species, it begins in the second half of summer. Associated with the drying of fodder vegetation. A particularly long hibernation, about 8 months, is observed in yellow ground squirrel (Citellus fulvus), inhabiting the Trans-Volga and Kazakhstan steppes and semi-deserts Central Asia. This ground squirrel usually lives far from crops and is not a serious agricultural pest. Its fur is valued higher than other species.

In the steppes of the European part of Russia, in the Caucasus, in Kazakhstan, it is common small gopher (C. pigmaeus); in the European part of our country (east to the Volga) is also common spotted ground squirrel (C. suslicus).

Similar in lifestyle to gophers prairie dogs (Gynomys), living in the desert-steppe landscapes of the plains and foothills of North and Central America. They live in burrows in large communities of several thousand individuals, where a complex group structure of relations develops. Like gophers and marmots, often rise on their hind legs and scream when threatened.

In the steppes of South-Eastern Europe, Kazakhstan, Western Siberia and in the mountains of Central Asia and Siberia, marmots. Systematically and biologically, they are close to ground squirrels, but differ in much larger sizes. typical view bobak (Marmota bobac).

Representatives of another family are close to squirrels - flying (Pteromyidae). They are distributed in the northeast of Europe, throughout Asia, in North and Central America and inhabit tall forests in the temperate and tropical zones.

We have one species in the forests of Europe and Siberia - flying squirrel (Pteromys volans). The flying squirrel is active at dusk and at night. Spends the day in a hollow. With the help of a flying membrane located between the front and hind legs, the flying squirrel makes gliding jumps from tree to tree up to 50 m long.

Outwardly similar to protein and species of the family dormouse (Gliridae). These small arboreal animals are distributed mainly in the broad-leaved forests of Europe, Central and South Asia. Unlike squirrels, they hibernate for the winter and fall asleep easily with a steady drop in temperature. Most large view- dormouse - regiment ( Glis glis), a small animal (body length 15 - 20 cm, weight - 150 - 180 g) with a fluffy tail, often lives in gardens and causes harm by eating fruits. known forest dormouse (Dryomys nitedula), hazel (Muscardinus avellanarius), garden (Eliomys quercinus).

Family beaver (Castoridae) contains only two species, one of which ( castor canadensis) is common in North America, another ( C. fibers) in Europe and Asia. These are large (up to 30 kg) rodents with a massive body and flattened tail. The toes of the hind legs are connected by a swimming membrane. Beaver fur with thick undercoat and coarse awn is beautiful and waterproof. The beaver lubricates him with a secret anal glands.

They live in colonies along forest streams. The dwelling is made of branches and pieces of tree trunks. huts And burrows. Settling on the river, beavers are building on it dams, raising the water level and making it relatively constant. In the summer they eat herbaceous plants. In winter - bark and branches of trees. For the winter, stocks of branch food are made, which are placed in the water near the dwelling. They breed once a year, bringing 2 - 4 cubs. They become sexually mature in the third year of life.

In past Euro-Asian beaver was numerous and met in many parts of Europe and Siberia, spreading to the forest-tundra in the north and semi-deserts in the south. On the territory of Russia in the XIX century. it was almost universally exterminated. At present, thanks to the protection and artificial resettlement undertaken in the middle of the 20th century. the number of beavers in Russia has increased markedly, and they are found in many areas. The area has been restored and canadian beaver.

Family jerboas (Dipodidae) unites peculiar desert and steppe rodents, possessing (in most cases) very long hind legs and short front legs. The tail is long, often with a brush at the end.. They move very quickly by jumping only on their hind legs, which is very important when living in the desert with its sparse vegetation and meager food supply. Some species harm plantings of melons and industrial crops. They hibernate for the winter. The largest of all species of the family big jerboa, or earth hare (Allactaga major) (body length 19 - 26 cm, tail - 30 cm).

In total, 26 species of jerboas are known. Their distribution covers the desert regions of North Africa, Southeast Europe, Asia Minor and Western Asia, Transcaucasia, Central Asia to Northeast China and Mongolia.

Animals from the family porcupines (Hystricidae) (13 species) are distributed almost throughout Africa, in the Mediterranean, in Western, Minor and South Asia. Near the southern borders of Russia, in the Eastern Transcaucasia and in the foothill regions of Central Asia, one species is widespread - Indian porcupine (Hystrix indica), the largest of the Eurasian rodent species. The back, sides and tail are covered with needles, the lower surface of the body is covered with hair.

Lives in burrows, often in gardens. In some places harms melons. Nocturnal lifestyle. A disturbed porcupine bristles and rustles loudly tail rattle. Running away, it can suddenly stop and stick needles into the attacker. It is wrong to say that a porcupine can throw its quills arbitrarily far.

Mention should be made of the family capybara (Hyarochoeridae). capybara, or capybara (Hadrochoerus hydrochaeris), the largest species of rodents: a body length of about 1.5 m and a weight of 50 - 60 kg. It is common in South and Central America, where it lives in low-lying tall grass areas along river banks.

To the family c wine (Caviidae) belong to animals known as domestic "guinea" pigs. Type of pig Cavia porcellus porcellus well known as an inhabitant of living corners of schools, kindergartens and as a laboratory animal. In nature, they live in small groups among grass and shrubs, build burrows.

To the family Khutian (Capromyidae) belongs to the well-known in Russia nutria (Myocastor coypus). Her homeland is South America. However, in the XX century. nutria was introduced to Europe and North America. Lives in Transcaucasia and is successfully bred in Russian fur farms.

Very peculiar, specialized rodents leading an underground lifestyle are united by the family mole rats (Spalacidae). They have a valky body, without a pronounced neck, a flattened head, short paws, eyes hidden under the skin, no auricles, fur low, velvety. Mole rats dig the earth with their chisels, and throw it out with their heads. The lateral folds of the lips behind the incisors close and tightly close the mouth. They feed on the underground parts of plants and, in search of food, construct a very complex move system. Distributed in the steppes of the European part of Russia and the Caucasus. In some places they harm agriculture.

Deep specialization to the underground digging way of life was revealed in naked diggers (Heterocephalus glaber) from the family excavators (Bathyergidae), living in shrouds and semi-deserts of Central Africa (Somalia), digger It has a short(up to 9 cm), hairless body. Under the ground with incisors and head digs underground tunnels up to 40 m long. Animals keep in clusters up to 30 and even 100 individuals and have a complex family-group hierarchy.

Family mouse (Muridae) - the most numerous group of rodents, distributed almost throughout the globe. Most species are small animals that live in burrows. The food is mainly vegetable, some species sometimes eat small animals, such as insects. Very high fecundity and early puberty are characteristic. Under favorable conditions, some species are able to breed all year round. Among mice there are species that significantly damage crops and food stocks. Some are of great epidemiological significance. The largest number of species rats(sort of Rattus) are common in tropical Africa and South Asia. Widely known and widespread gray rat, or pasyuk (R. norvegicus), settled after man throughout the globe, except for Antarctica and some oceanic islands. They live more often in buildings, but sometimes far from housing. The harm caused by rats is well known.

ubiquitous mice: in human settlements - house mouse (Mus muscle), in the corresponding names of natural areas harvest mouse (Apodemus agrarian) And wood mouse (A. sylvaticus). They differ from mice in a short tail and the structure of molars - voles: gray (genus Microtus), red (genus Clethrionomys). They are ubiquitous. Peculiar animals live in the tundra of the Arctic lemmings(genus Lemmus), some of them turn white in winter.

Voles also include muskrat (Ondatra zibethica) is a large rodent with valuable fur. The homeland of the muskrat is North America. During the XX century. The muskrat was acclimatized in Western Europe and in Russia and settled in water bodies almost everywhere. This is a semi-aquatic animal living in reservoirs overgrown with vegetation. The muskrat occupies the grass and earth huts or does burrows. It feeds on aquatic vegetation. Like all species of mice, the muskrat quickly reaches puberty and actively breeds, bringing 2-4 times a year, 4-12 cubs. After acclimatization The muskrat has become one of the most important fur-bearing animals in Russia.

TO voles numerous hamsters. They are one family with them. hamsters (Cricetidae). Well known, kept in captivity gray hamster (Cricetulus migratorius), Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus).

Big ones live in the desert gerbils (Rhombomys opimus). They are relatively large in size and have a long drooping tail. Settle in colonies, constructing complex underground cities.