How to Corral an Escaped Gerbil
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| Prevention
Let's start with the basics. Having a gerbil loose in the house is not fun. Before we talk about how to locate and capture an escaped gerbil, let's talk about how to avoid this stressful situation in the first place. First, if you have your gerbil living in a plastic habitat, be aware that the chances are that one day you will have an escape. Gerbils chew on plastic, tubes break off, and plastic is easily knocked to the ground.For a better housing idea, see the Ideal Housing tip.
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| An escape-prone home |
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<- more secure home |
| Make sure you have a lid and clamps for your tank. Gerbils can jump several feet in the air when they want to. (Two of mine leap high enough to bang their heads on the lid of their 20-gallon-high tank.) This probably goes without saying, but always, *always* check the lid to make sure it is clamped securely after handling your gerbils or anything in their tank. |
Locating an escaped gerbil. The best tool for finding an escaped gerbil is your ear. Sometimes the first sign of an escaped gerbil is the sound of a foot stomping on the kitchen floor. Other times, the giveaway sound might be the sound of cardboard being chewed in the hallway closet. Also, think like a gerbil. Gerbils like small areas and tunnels. They are likely to hide in the dark corner of a closet, in the gap behind a bookshelf, or under kitchen appliances. |
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| I found my gerbil... |
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| I can't catch her! |
Place a narrow cardboard box or a cardboard tube (pictured below) in front of your gerbil's hiding spot. The gerbil will be tempted to explore the box or tube. Be patient, and let her do it on her own terms. Once she's in the tube or box, scoop it up. Because she may carry strange scents from her travels, watch carefully for any sign of fighting when she returns to her tankmate. If she was loose for more than 24 hours, use the split-cage method to ensure a peaceful reunion.
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