Dear drivers, it's time to take your foot off the gas! A new warning sign has appeared along the roads

When setting out on a trip to the Lublin Province, it is good to know that you may notice a sign by the roadside warning: "Attention, another danger - Slow down, hamsters!". More precisely - two signs that are located on the section of the district road between the village of Deszkowice and the village of Sąsiadka.

What is important, indeed crucial, about the location of these signs? The site is located on the border of the Szczebrzeszyński Landscape Park.

Hamsters are associated with pets that we feed with carrots. Our homes are most often home to Jungarian and Siberian hamsters, which are friendly towards children. However, there are about 300 hamster breeds and one of them can be found in the Szczebrzeszyński Landscape Park.

Not very sociable, threatened with extinction

We are talking about the European hamster, which to some may resemble a guinea pig in appearance. These animals are beautifully coloured. The top of their body is dark brown, while their belly is black. They have white spots around their armpits - and on their cheeks, muzzle and nape. These hamsters inspire affection with their appearance, especially when they stand on their two hind legs.

Characteristic of these rodents is quite a large body weight. One rodent weighs between 500 and 800 grams. Unlike the Siberian and Jungle hamsters we know, European hamsters would certainly not find their way into our homes - they are not companionable creatures. They do not even tolerate other hamsters. The only exception to this is during the breeding period and when they are rearing their young.

Interestingly, these animals are extremely brave and ferocious. When threatened, they make barking or squawking-like noises. This is why they are referred to by farmers as ground or cold dogs. The species is currently threatened with extinction.

By protecting European hamsters, we protect other species

Why is it so important to prevent the extinction of these rodents? The European hamster is an umbrella species. This means that by protecting this species, we are simultaneously protecting a number of other species that inhabit the same habitat. European Hamsters can be found in Poland, in the Lubelskie, Małopolskie, Świętokrzyskie and Podkarpackie Voivodeships.

The Lublin Landscape Parks Team, Zamość Branch, conducted an inventory of the European hamster in the Szczebrzeszyński Landscape Park. It turned out that these extremely colourful rodents have become permanently established in the area. And it was out of concern for the survival of the species that warning signs were erected on the district road near the border of the said landscape park: "Slow down, hamsters!".

The question arises, why? European hamsters are very often killed on the roads. Therefore, drivers, a request to take your foot off the accelerator in the area around Szczebrzeszynski Park.