A warm, sunny afternoon in August: I visit the Meidling cemetery in Vienna to look out for field hamsters. The atmosphere in the cemetery is peaceful – in the eastern, old part of the grounds, historic gravestones are lined up under shady trees. It is here, in this idyllic setting, that I hope to catch a glimpse of the shy hamsters. My patience pays off: I actually spot two hamsters. One scurries nimbly from one gravestone to the next, while the other sits in front of its burrow and eats in peace. The small rodents between the rows of weathered graves seem almost unreal. It is impressive to observe these rare wild animals in the middle of the city and surrounded by historic graves.
Other animals also cross my path on this day. A squirrel quickly climbs up a tree – much shyer than the shrewd hamsters. A few hooded crows, on the other hand, hop around curiously, always hoping for food from visitors to the cemetery. You quickly realize that the animals have probably been fed here frequently, because the crows have lost their shyness and are watching me expectantly.
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Do not feed wild animals!
During my tour, I meet two other photographers. One of them actually attracts a hamster with food – which I don’t approve of at all. As cute and trusting as the hamsters in Vienna may seem, a real sense of responsibility means not feeding wild animals. Constant feeding can distract animals from their natural search for food. Hamsters and other animals become accustomed to daily feedings and neglect their own search for food instead of eating a varied diet from natural sources. In addition, their natural behavior can be disturbed – for example, the animals change their activity times in anticipation of food.
Apart from that, feeding wild hamsters is not necessary and – as they are strictly protected – not permitted. An honest nature lover respects the needs of the animals: he enjoys their natural behavior, keeps an appropriate distance and does not interfere. Feeding wild animals may be well-intentioned, but it is problematic for several reasons and is often even prohibited. Great care must be taken with strictly protected hamsters in particular, as any disturbance could harm them.
Equipment and photographic technique
On this day, I have my Nikon Z8 with me for the animal photography, combined with a 500 mm f/4 telephoto lens. This long focal length makes it possible to keep enough distance from the shy hamsters and still take full-frame pictures of them. I mounted the camera on a tripod close to the ground with a video panhead so that I could take photos at eye level with the small rodents. The frog perspective produces particularly impressive shots – the hamster stands out beautifully against the blurred background. At the same time, the camera remains stable thanks to the tripod and I can calmly take the shot without disturbing the animals. Patience and quiet behavior are essential: any hasty movement could cause the attentive hamsters to disappear into their burrows.
The best chances of seeing or photographing hamsters are early in the morning and in the evening. During these twilight hours, the crepuscular animals leave their burrows – even at the cemetery – and go in search of food, while during the day there is usually a yawning emptiness in front of the hamster burrows.
European hamsters in Vienna – Facts
The European field hamster can only be found in a few places in Europe today and is considered endangered. In Vienna, it is under strict protection in accordance with the Vienna Nature Conservation Act, and is mainly found in districts 10 to 12 and 21 to 23, where it is mainly found in parks and cemeteries. The Meidling cemetery in the 12th district is also one of these habitats.
An adult field hamster can grow up to 30 cm long. – significantly larger than a golden hamster. Its fur pattern is striking: reddish-brown on top, white spots on the flanks and deep black on the belly.
Field hamsters live as solitary animals in burrows they dig themselves. They spend a large part of the day underground and hibernate there from October to March. They are mainly active at dusk and usually only come out of their burrows in the evening to look for food. The animals mainly eat plants (seeds, green plants, fruit), but also eat insects and other small animals. In the fall, they build up winter stores in their larders, which they draw on in case they wake up from hibernation.
Defensive tiny creature – defense with cheek pouches and black belly
Don’t be fooled by their cute appearance: Hamsters can be extremely defensive in the face of danger. If the small rodent feels threatened, it deploys an impressive defense strategy. It rears up on its hind legs and hisses loudly – it can even inflate its expandable cheek pouches to appear even larger. The field hamster presents its pitch-black belly, which is lined with white flank patches, to the enemy in a particularly striking way. From the perspective of an attacker, the black and white belly fur suddenly looks like a wide open maw with teeth. Many predators are intimidated by this surprising threatening gesture and flee. The brief moment of hesitation is often enough for the hamster to disappear in a flash into a nearby burrow or a vertical escape tunnel in the ground. This tactic may have a deterrent effect on predators such as birds of prey, foxes or martens – we humans, on the other hand, usually find a snarling, angry hamster simply charming, even if it does its best to appear dangerous.
Other places for hamsters in Vienna
The Meidling cemetery in the 12th district has proven to be a real insider tip for observing hamsters up close in Vienna. But it is not the only place: Vienna is home to several hamster hotspots where, with a little luck, nature lovers can see and photograph the cute rodents. Here are some well-known places:
- Vienna Central Cemetery (11th district) – Vienna’s largest cemetery is famous for its hamster population. The protected rodents can regularly be observed between the graves of the Central Cemetery in summer. For many animal photographers, the Central Cemetery is a top spot for photographing hamsters, especially in the less frequented, natural areas. Early in the morning and late in the afternoon are the best times to spot them.
- Sankt Marxer Friedhof (3rd district) – A former cemetery that has been used as a park since 1874. The old gravestones (including Mozart’s grave monument) also provide a habitat for a few field hamsters. Although the population there is small, hamster burrows can be found between some of the graves, especially near the entrance on the right-hand side. . The park is open during the day (approx. 6:30 am to 6:30 pm).
- Martin-Luther-King-Park (10th district) – A green space in Favoriten, not far from the Wienerberg. Despite construction work in the meantime, hamsters have still been spotted here. The park is open to the public (open 24 hours a day) and offers good observation opportunities, especially in the early evening when the animals come out of their underground burrows.
- Volkspark Laaerberg (10th district) – A park on Laaer Berg, also in the Favoriten district. Hamsters not only live in the park itself, but also in the green areas between the adjoining housing estates in the south of the park. If you search the meadows and bushes carefully, you may come across hamsters here too. As the park is open at all times, it is worth visiting early in the morning or in the evening.
All in all, this excursion proved to be extremely worthwhile. It was fascinating to observe and photograph the strictly protected field hamsters in the middle of the city of Vienna. This experience is an impressive demonstration of the surprising wildlife Vienna has to offer. If we as nature lovers keep to a few basic rules – keep your distance, don’t feed and respect the animals and their habitats – the chances of experiencing such encounters without stress for animals and humans are good. In my case, the Meidling cemetery was a real stroke of luck: a place where you can photograph hamsters in Vienna at close range without having to leave the city. Every encounter with the wild hamsters is a small piece of natural wonder in everyday urban life – and it’s precisely moments like these that make the big city so lively and exciting for me.
