Why do gerbils always want to escape, and how to prevent and deal with it?
Have you ever experienced this situation: your gerbil pet suddenly disappears, and despite your efforts to find it, you can’t locate any trace of it? Are you feeling anxious, worried, and helpless, wondering why your gerbil wants to escape, where it wants to go, and how to retrieve it? If you have these questions, then continue reading this article, as I will address these concerns and provide effective methods to ensure a harmonious relationship between you and your gerbil, minimizing the chances of escape incidents.
Analysis of Reasons for Gerbil Escapes
Gerbils are intelligent, curious, and lively animals. In their natural habitat, they are social rodents primarily found in arid regions such as deserts and grasslands. With a strong survival instinct, gerbils create complex underground burrow systems for storing food, water, and protection. They possess adaptability, thriving in extreme environmental conditions. As pets, gerbils offer many advantages—they are adorable, clean, easy to care for, and do not transmit diseases. They are also friendly and loyal, forming deep connections with their owners. However, gerbils exhibit a downside, and one of the most challenging behaviors for pet owners is their tendency to escape. Several reasons may contribute to why gerbils want to escape:
Searching for Food and Water: Gerbils are voracious eaters, constantly seeking and storing food as a strategy against potential scarcity. They also need an ample water supply to maintain hydration. If they find the food and water in their cage insufficient or stale, they may attempt to escape to search for better sustenance—a natural instinct and a survival strategy.
Boredom and Lack of Stimulation: Gerbils are inherently curious and active animals. They enjoy exploring and playing, requiring continuous mental and physical stimulation. If their cage lacks sufficient entertainment and activities, they may become bored and frustrated, prompting them to escape in search of more excitement and adventure.
Anxiety and Nervousness: Gerbils are sensitive and vigilant creatures, reacting strongly to changes in their environment. If they sense threats or danger, they may try to escape to find a safer place. Factors like noise, odors, temperature fluctuations, light conditions, and airflow within the cage can induce anxiety. Additionally, they may react to the owner’s attitude, frequency, and handling style.
Getting Lost or Exploratory Behavior: Gerbils are intelligent and curious animals, utilizing every opportunity to explore and learn about their surroundings. They remember the locations of their burrows and food. If given a chance to escape, they might want to explore the outside world, seeking better burrows, food, companionship, or acquiring more knowledge and experience.
Preventive Measures for Gerbil Escapes
Provide Adequate Food and Water: Ensure gerbils receive a balanced diet consisting of dry food, fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and hay for dental health. Regularly clean their food dish to prevent mold or infestations. Keep their water source clean, preventing leaks or contamination. Provide fresh water regularly.
Increase Entertainment and Activity: Gerbils need daily exercise and playtime. Offer a variety of toys like wheels, tunnels, houses, balls, swings, and ladders made from wood, plastic, metal, or fabric. Rotate and clean their toys regularly, avoiding sharp or loose parts. Introduce new toys periodically to maintain their interest.
Create a Comfortable Environment with Hiding Spaces: Gerbils require a warm, dry, quiet, and well-ventilated cage. Ensure the cage is appropriate in size—neither too large nor too small. Avoid direct sunlight and extreme temperatures. Provide hiding spaces like wooden houses, cardboard boxes, or towels for them to rest or seek shelter, promoting a sense of security and privacy.
Regularly Check and Maintain the Cage: Gerbils are skilled escape artists, utilizing their teeth, claws, noses, and tails. Regularly inspect their cage for signs of damage, such as bite marks, scratches, holes, or loose components. Repair or replace any compromised areas promptly. Pay attention to cage doors, ensuring they are securely locked and not susceptible to being opened or pushed.
Observation and Care After Gerbil Escapes
Close Off Rooms to Restrict Movement: If a gerbil escapes, quickly identify its direction and close off all doors, windows, vents, and holes to prevent it from entering other rooms or venturing outside. Temporarily isolate other pets to avoid interference or harm to the gerbil. Secure dangerous items like knives, medications, or cleaning agents to prevent ingestion or contact.
Use Food and Water as Bait: Gerbils may become hungry or thirsty after escaping. Utilize their love for food and water by placing their favorite treats and a water source in visible areas like the floor, table, or sofa. Use safe containers to avoid spills or contamination. Position the food and water close to the cage entrance to facilitate their return.
Prepare or Purchase Appropriate Capture Tools: Directly capturing an escaped gerbil can be challenging. Create simple traps using items like cardboard boxes, baskets, or buckets, baiting them with food and water. Alternatively, invest in professional capture tools such as live traps made of metal or plastic. Ensure the tools are suitable in size, safe, and free from potential harm or escape routes.
Safety Considerations After Gerbil Returns
Ensure Other Pets Do Not Pose a Threat: Gerbils are vulnerable to predation. If other pets, such as cats, dogs, birds, or snakes, are present in the household, ensure they are temporarily separated from the gerbil. Avoid exposing them to the gerbil’s scent or sound. Educate and train other pets to treat the gerbil as a friend rather than prey.
Avoid Harmful Capture Methods: Due to their fragile nature, avoid using capture methods that could harm gerbils, such as traps, glue boards, or toxic baits. Opt for gentle, humane, and safe capture methods like live traps, cardboard boxes, or baskets. Prevent any potential pain or trauma, as gerbils are susceptible to injuries.
Observe and Care for the Gerbil Post-Capture: After an escape, gerbils may experience fear, nervousness, hunger, thirst, or physical discomfort. Conduct a thorough examination for wounds, swelling, bleeding, or signs of infection. Clean, disinfect, bandage, or medicate any injuries promptly. Provide a modest amount of food and water to replenish energy and hydration, avoiding excessive amounts to prevent digestive issues or vomiting. Offer comfort and encouragement, allowing them time and space to readjust and recover without forcing interaction.
By following these preventive and responsive measures, you can enhance the well-being of your gerbil and reduce the likelihood of escape incidents. Additionally, you’ll be better prepared to handle situations should an escape occur, ensuring the safety and happiness of your gerbil companion.
