Our hamster is gone, what should I do

We have two hamsters, seperate cages, that are being kept in our garage for extermination today, well I couldnt keep that close of an eye on him today, since he was in the garage (dont worry, its very cool,inground garage..no worry of overheating!) Today he PUSHED his water bottle up and out of the hole on the top of his cage, and escaped! He has gotten out in the house before, and I just did the old bucket of fruit trick, and it worked like a charm. Well, he isnt in the garage, so I'm pretty sure he got outside. :(

what should I do? Should I try to do the bucket thing outside? Where would he even go outside? Would he know how to fend for himself? My daughter is going to be heartbroken!! Should we get another one, and say its him until/if we find him? I just feel like he could be anywhere, I'm POSITIVE he didnt get into the house, the door was shut since earlier, and he was in the cage then, he has to be outside, there is nowhere for him to go in the garage.

You can't beat yourself up too badly about this. Of course, it wasn't intentional. You were doing what you could to protect them from the pesticides.

I would try the bucket thing outside the garage. Maybe in a couple of different places. I don't know how well it would work outside...it depends on how far away he is and if he can smell the food. You could also catch a few "strays" or something. But I think it would definitely be worth a shot.