Common hamster (Cricetus cricetus, Cricetidae, Rodentia) in the Simferopol city: Population dynamics and survival outlook

Abstract

In the Simferopol city, the numbers of Common hamsters began to grow since the early 1970s and reached a peak in the mid-1990s. The abundance was kept at a high level until 2014–2015 and then began to decline. In multi-storey residential development areas, steady settlements of hamsters have now virtually disappeared, and even in large green areas (the City Park and Botanical Garden), the numbers dropped almost tenfold. One of the possible causes for this decline was cutting down shrubs and hedges, which began since 2016–2017. However, the population has also severe declined in areas with no such activities. Thus, the fate of the Simferopol hamster population is worrisome. Obviously, we are dealing with a multi-factor process which requires special studying, without which no estimating of population viability or developing of conservation measures are possible.