Why Wild Hamsters live where Beethoven is buried (w/ Yaz Ellis, Wildlife Filmmaker)

When you hear “hamster,” you probably think of tiny cages, spinning wheels, and sunflower seeds. But wild European hamsters are a completely different story. In this episode of Not a Biologist, Alex talks to wildlife filmmaker Yasmine Ellis about the secret lives of Vienna’s wild hamsters, which are thriving on the city's graveyards. Alex and Yaz will talk about dramatic cemetery fights, underground tunnel systems and also about why one of Europe’s cutest rodents is now critically endangered. We also dive into how you even film these tiny chaos goblins, why Vienna has become one of their last strongholds, and why their sense of smell is far better than their eyesight. Fun fact: the German word “hamstern” literally means “to hoard” and after this episode, you’ll understand exactly why. 🐹 Did you know that... • hamsters are most active at dawn and dusk • are VERY territorial … and surprisingly dramatic • Vienna is one of the last strongholds for European hamsters 🎙️ Not a Biologist is a Terra Mater Studios wildlife podcast where host Alex sits down with experts to break down fascinating wildlife behavior using footage straight from our nature documentaries. 👉🏼 Full episode + bonus content on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/TerraMater 🎬 Check out our "Wild Vienna" trailer and learn more about the hidden wildlife living right inside Austria’s capital. From wild hamsters in graveyards to urban beavers and foxes, the film reveals a side of Vienna most people never notice: https://youtu.be/QNVn4icwWz8?si=7aHjyHLPo7SkAvkv 🎬 Yaz Ellis’ short film "For Deer Life" follows the volunteers and drone pilots rescuing hidden roe deer fawns from Austrian meadows before mowing season begins. The film shines a light on the collision between modern agriculture and wildlife and the people working to save countless animals every spring. Watch the trailer here: https://www.dreamwildfilms.com/fordeerlife