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What do some rodents kill or hurt their babies2007-11-24 22:16:17

i just want to know why animal like hamsters or rabbits hurt their own babie. it just weird. isn't it?

Answers:

In the wild, it's very practical. If a baby doesn't survive and is left to rot, it spoils the habitat and attracts enemies. Eating it serves both those babies still alive and the feeds the mother who needs her health and strength to feed and protect her children.

I had two pet rats, and one died and I discovered the other had been eating her. I was momentarily devastated and repulsed before it occurred to me that for animals who don't bury or cremate, eating the bodies of the dead is an efficient process of protecting self and environment.

Is it weird: perhaps but not in a moral sense. We're humans with reason and rationality and for some reason objectify corpses as deserving or respect. Animals do not.

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No it isn't they do this because of the babies health if there isn't enough food or water they will not survive so she saves them the trouble and if something disturbs her and is a threat she will kill them for safety Also if it is the runt it is to small to survive, everything has a reason, please vote this as a best answer and im going to star this question click on who starred ill be there

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Yes, it is horrible. This happened to one of our baby hamsters. The mother gave birth and the next day I found the head of one of the babies. I about cried. The mother did this because the baby was the smallest, and the weakest. The baby is full of necassary vitamins and minerals for the mother, this gives her plenty of milk for the other babies. Its sad.

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I dunno, but my fishie has live babies, and fishies have a short memory, so like if the babies don't get away quick enough, the mommie thinks it food and eats it.

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Sometimes like if you touched the baby it looses its smell and thier mom wont be able tell who it is, because most animals know eachother by smell such as dogs or cats,and will eather kill or try to kill it by attacking so that could be one reason.HOPE THAT HELPED!

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in nature rodent kill their baby because the baby could a be a threat or not enough food to feed so they kill some to save the other either that or stress

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the REAL reason is if something scares them or if they feel threatened. they will kill their babies to "protect them." i know it sounds weird but it is the truth

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Hamster dont hurt their babies for no reason, only if a person is giving them bad conditions. Its because their under stress. They take the stress out on their children, hamster have no pillows to punch, so when they're irritated, they'll take it out on anything.

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Rabbits by the way are langomorphs not rodents.

But anyway. if they kill the baby its either because the Mom knows its weak or ill. or if it would pose a potential threat to the nest. Like if a baby is born still born theyll eat it. Purely to make sure the smell of the dead baby doesn't attract preaditors.

I guess this is the same with rodents too?