Hamsters generally don't need to hibernate, but they may enter a state of torpor under certain circumstances.
General Situation: Pet hamsters kept at home usually don't need to hibernate because they live in a relatively warm environment with an abundant supply of food. Pet owners need to keep the room temperature stable between 20-25°C, provide hamsters with sufficient water and food, and let them spend the winter as usual.
Specific Situations:
Wild Hamsters: Due to the scarcity of food and extremely low temperatures, wild hamsters need to hibernate to get through the cold winter.
Torpor: In situations where the temperature is low or the food supply is insufficient, pet hamsters may exhibit a state of torpor, that is, they enter a state similar to suspended animation. This is usually caused by an excessively low environmental temperature (lower than 15 degrees Celsius). Older hamsters and certain specific breeds (such as Syrian hamsters and dwarf hamsters) are more prone to torpor.
Specific Breeds: Some hamster breeds may hibernate under specific conditions. For example, Djungarian hamsters (Campbell's dwarf hamsters) may hibernate in the wild, but they usually don't in an artificially raised environment. Campbell's hamsters (first-line hamsters) and Roborovski hamsters (dwarf hamsters) also have the ability to hibernate. When the environmental temperature remains below 10 degrees Celsius continuously, they may enter a state of hibernation.
Handling of Torpor: If you find that a hamster has entered a state of torpor, you should promptly transfer it to a warm environment and wrap it with soft items like a towel to help it gradually regain its body temperature. At the same time, you can feed it some glucose water or sugar water to replenish its body's energy.
In conclusion, hamsters generally don't need to hibernate, but under specific conditions (such as in the wild, extremely low environmental temperatures, insufficient food, etc.), they may enter a state of hibernation or torpor. Pet owners should take corresponding measures according to the breed and living environment of the hamsters to ensure their health and safety.