Any sighting of a live or dead field hamster, or an entrance to a burrow, can be reported via the BioLog and iNaturalist mobile apps [1].

In the Czech Republic, the European hamster (Cricetus cricetus) was once a common inhabitant of fields in farmland, but today it is extremely rare. It is among the fastest-disappearing mammals in all of Eurasia. Therefore, the NCA CR is mapping the distribution of the strikingly coloured rodent. The data gathered is important for establishing appropriate conservation measures and for making decisions regarding more sustainable land management in areas where the specially protected rodent has been still surviving. Precise localization will ensure that land management is not restricted in areas where it does not occur.

The European hamster is an ideal candidate for mapping because it cannot be confused with any other rodent.  It has a rust-coloured back, a black belly, and white spots on its sides and behind its ears. Unlike other hamster species kept as pets in homes, it is larger, growing to over 30 cm in length and weighing up to half a kilogram.

“The European hamster is a typical steppe and forest-steppe species; in the Czech Republic, it had been used to inhabit mid- and high-altitude areas as well, but today it occurs almost exclusively in lowlands. Yet even from there, it is disappearing. It needs a diverse agricultural landscape with plenty of food and shelter to survive. However, today’s intensive agriculture, with large areas of crops and rapid harvesting, does not give it enough time to build up winter reserves or find safe shelter from predators,” explains Vladimír Hanzal, a zoologist at the NCA CR.

“Current data show us that the European hamster is also appearing near human settlements, orchards, and gardens. It may find more favourable conditions there than in the open countryside with vast expanses of monoculture crops,” adds Vladimír Hanzal.

Surveys of the European hamster focus primarily on locating signs of their presence in the field, typically hamster burrows. The data is recorded in the Nature Conservancy Species Occurrence Finding Data Database (ND OP) managed by the NCA CR. The mapping track not only population sizes but also the overall condition of the habitats where the hamsters live. The information is used, inter alia, to designate areas where the use of rodenticides is restricted to prevent the accidental poisoning of not only hamsters but also other wild animal species.

“The comprehensive mapping of the European hamster builds on a similar initiative from previous years. Thanks to the ‘Spot Squirrels with Your Phone’ campaign, which has been running since 2018, more than 16,500 records of red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) sightings have been added to the database. Slightly more people reported sightings of black-coloured squirrels, and slightly fewer of the red ones,” explains Karel Chobot, Director of the Biodiversity Monitoring Department at the NCA CR. “Mapping and monitoring are among the fundamental pillars of our activities. Without accurate and up-to-date data on the occurrence of wild plants, animals, and habitats, it is impossible to effectively protect, conserve and manage nature and the landscape,” concludes Karel Chobot.

Note:

[1] The Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic has developed a user-friendly story map for the "Wanted: The European hmaster" mapping campaign. It is available at krecek.nature.cz.
 

Photo: Ondřej Prosický, A. Hanzalová, L. Brejšková