Emergency - really can't find degu and open window

[mattandhis3degus]

Hi,

In the middle of last night when I was up because I wasn't able to sleep, I let my three degus out of their cage to have a run around. I've done it many times before and there hasn't been any problem, other than that it has sometimes taken a while to catch them. Recently I have been leaving one of my windows open a small amount to let some fresh air in. The degus are able to climb onto my sofa, up the back of it and then onto the inside window ledge. It hasn't been an issue when all the windows have been closed, but this time I've only been able to find two of the degus and I'm extremely worried that one of them might have jumped out the window. I live in a one bedroom flat on the ground floor, so it would have survived the jump. But it would have been dark and cold outside so incredibly stupidly I assumed that they wouldn't try and jump out. The only other place it could've gone is into the kitchen area and behind the fixed wooden panels. Because of the layout of the kitchen area, it isn't possible to see behind these wooden panels. I have quietly listened for many hours now and can't hear the missing degu. I have looked outside the block of flats but didn't think to look for a number of hours.


I am really panicking about this. What on earth am I going to do?

[uglibug]

Oh lord, I'm so sorry I can't be of any real help, other than to suggest maybe trying the food in a bucket trick under the window and checking regularly. Also let neighbours know she is missing as they may spot her out and about and give you a rough idea of where she is. I can imagine how frantic you are, one of our girls vanished for 2 days but thankfully turned up fit and well but filthy and covered in cobwebs (we think she found a way into the walls). All I can do is commiserate and say don't give up, she may still reappear fit and healthy and wondering what all the fuss is about!!

[deguconvert]

Perhaps you can get one of those humane cages that you can put food and water in and see if she will come to get a nosh and a drink, and end up safely contained. What is the temp outside? You might want to include some means of helping her to keep warm. Hay, soft shredded paper, a nesting box/weather proof container that the degu can hide in. Maybe put one of these kinds of capture cages in your kitchen as well?

I am so sorry about her/him going missing on you. You must be horrified and so worried. I hope you will soon have your little fur love back!

[mattandhis3degus]

Many thanks for the replies. Late last night I ordered the following humane cage trap, but it won't arrive for a couple of days:

www.amazon.co.uk/Medium-Metal-Animals-Squirrel-Humane/dp/B003C0DO76

And I've put a small hamster cage which I've used for transporting the degus in the past on the grass at the back of my block of flats. I've put some food in it. Unfortunately, I didn't think of doing this until late last night, as opposed to early in the morning. The temperature outside should be about 8 Celsius, so I think the temperature is reasonable enough. But if the degu wanted to explore and ran off, how far would he go and would he be able to find his way back?

[Bexi87]

Oh no, I'm so sorry - all I can suggest is the same as uglibug and DC and leave a food trap out. Have you looked under any bushes nearby? I imagine if he/she is outside they may be scared and hiding somewhere?

Got everything crossed that you find your fur baby soon!

[uglibug]

When your trap arrives try covering it with a towel or similar, degus love dark tunnels and it may encourage her in.

[bouncy]

I'm sorry, I've had escapees before of various species, and know what it's like.

In addition to the humane traps, how about a recording of degu chirping? Could be your own or even from the Internet. I bet there's very little in the UK that sounds the same, and may encourage him out from his hiding place.

Good luck!

[moletteuk]

The only other thing I can think of is to put the other two in a travel cage when everything is quiet and tour them around the flat and outside and see if you get a response from them anywhere, they might get excited or make noises or sniff the air a lot if they can hear or smell him.

Good luck!

[mattandhis3degus]

Despite a number of checks outside, there is still absolutely no sign of my missing degu, Horace. I just can't believe how stupid I've been. I just wish I could turn the clock back. And what it makes it even worse is that he was my favourite degu, as he was the most tame and intelligent of the three. I am absolutely gutted about losing him.

Bouncy, have your escapees always turned up?

[bouncy]

Oh Matt, that's such a shame!

Luckily, I have always been able to locate my furries, even if I've not been able to catch them straight away.

I notice you're in Wimbledon. I know you mentioned the ground outside your window, but are you in suburbia, or near main roads, or near a park or the common?

Are you convinced horace isn't in your flat? Could he he have gone to other places, such as into the cavity wall by the rising main, snug in the laundry basket or airing cupboard? Found his way into the lining of the sofa or bed?

[Bexi87]

Have you left food or anything inside to make sure 100% that he isn't hidden away somewhere?

I really feel for you, hope he makes it home soon

[mattandhis3degus]

I've now left food behind one of the wooden panels. I can't see behind it but they can climb behind it.

The trap that I ordered didn't turn up today unfortunately, but will hopefully arrive tomorrow for what it's worth.

I've just checked the hamster cage that I left outside, and in the last hour or so a tiny mouse has climbed inside. It really is incredibly small. What should I do with it?

[mattandhis3degus]

In case anyone is wondering, I helped the wild mouse out of the cage and it went on its way.

[bouncy]

Awwwww

Does the hamster cage have Horace substrate in it? If it's clean, it's worth putting in something from their cage. Also, if it was clean stuff, it might be worth replacing the area where the mouse was, as they can have a very potent smell.

[bouncy]

Any news Matt?

[Karma]

Don't forget to call your local rescues and vet clinics, someone may turn them in if they find them. I would put signs up on your block or let all your neighbours know, people may think it's a rat if they see it. Check any sheds near you, they would try to find a safe, dark, and warm place. Think. Like a Degu. Good luck!

[mattandhis3degus]

No news. Regarding where I live, there is a large grassy area outside the rear of my block of flats which has metal railings around it (which wouldn't stop foxes getting in), then there is a main road which would have been quiet when the degu went out, and then Wimbledon Common. The first two or three times I walked round Wimbledon Common I got lost, so I can't see how a degu that has never even been outside before, plus went outside for the first time when it was dark, could find its way back.

I received the trap today but I can't get it to stay set, so I'm going to try and modify it somehow.

I should've put missing posters up already but I will do that tonight.

[bouncy]

Try and remain positive, Matt. Degus are used to covering huge distances within their territory. Cars and predators aside, he's probably having the time of his life!

A couple of quick stories involving hamsters, that I hope might give you hope - one hamster escaped outside, not seen for three months. Was popping back now and then for food, then suddenly decided to come home again. The other was a friend who thought her hamster had died, and buried him in the garden. Few weeks later, she was out working in the garden, when she looked up to see the hamster sat next to her. He'd hibernated from a cold snap, then dug his way out and lived happily in the wild for a bit!

[Kins]

My husbands snake escaped (many years ago when he was still living at home with his Mum, long before we got together) and lived for several weeks outside. His mum eventually found him in the dustbin (I think) right as rain. He went on to live for many years.

I really hope you have some success in locating him, but only time will tell.

[mattandhis3degus]

Just to mention that I created a poster and would have printed it out on Thursday night but just my luck that when it came to printing, the printer had run out of black ink. So I bought a new cartridge on Friday night and there are now a couple of posters stuck up.

I've bought an MP3 player and portable speaker which I'm going to leave at night underneath my 'balcony' (there is a six inch gap between the bottom of it and the ground). It will play degu sounds, but I don't really know where to start on finding and preparing suitable audio files to be played on it. I found the following site but I don't know which files to choose and whether I should just have them on an endless loop:

www.octodons.ch/index.php/degusounds

Any thoughts?

As for the trap, I bought a file to try and make the 'hook' that holds the trapdoor up rougher so that it holds on it, but wasn't successful. I had already tried sticking a small piece of sellotape on to the hook but that didn't work.

Finally, the tiny little mouse was back, and again I helped it on its way.