Warning: your ‘dead’ hamster may be asleep

DEAD hamsters may only be hibernating, a charity has warned after a pet called Dusty was found alive in a wheelie bin.

The hibernating hamster’s owners wrongly thought it had died and placed it in the bin.

But when the waste collection team arrived to collect the rubbish, and opened the lid they were surprised to find the small black and white creature crawling out of the top.

The RSPCA says pet hamsters can hibernate in the winter if they are in colder areas of a home.

“Wild hamsters hibernate during the winter but wake up periodically to feed.

“In a warm house, artificial light and temperatures usually suppress this hibernation, which means it isn’t common for domestic hamsters to hibernate,” it advises.

“However, if your hamster is kept in a colder part of the house, they could go into hibernation during the winter and should be left alone.”

When Dusty was found, the waste team brought it back to their depot and made a temporary home for it.

A spokesman for the council said: “The hamster has now been reunited with its owners who are delighted with its return.”