The hamster is a small, burrowing rodent that lives in the wild in parts of Asia and Europe. Many people now keep hamsters as household pets. Hamsters are nocturnal (most active at night). After they leave their mother, hamsters are solitary animals. These small mammals have a life span of about 2 to 2.5 years.

Anatomy: The black bear hamster is about 6 inches (15 cm) long and weighs from 4 to 6 ounces (113-170 grams). The coat is black with some white markings on the feet and a white mark on the chest. Like all rodents, the hamster's front top teeth continue to grow throughout its life. It must gnaw on hard things to keep wearing the teeth down.

Diet: Hamsters eat grains, seeds, grasses, fruit, roots, stems, and small animals like worms and insects. They can store food in their large cheek pouches.