Two weeks on the lamb

Okay so almost 2 weeks ago my oldest daughters pet hamster escaped the  middle daughter set out humane traps to recapture it. This is worrisome to my kids because they know I do not like rodents loose in the house and the standing rule is if they are not caught in 3 days I put out rat poison.

Well my middle daughter was so upset I just didn't have the heart to do it especially since I had hand nursed this hamster. She was worried that if it got down stares it might be bored with no toys so she set up a hamster wheel down there with food and water.  She checked all the traps 3 and 5 times a day no hamster.

She gave up two days ago of ever getting the hamster back so I said leave them out a little longer and see what happens as she was so sad.  She said she didn't have the heart to look at the empty traps anymore as it just made her more sad so the youngest daughter volunteered to check the traps.

Tonight the middle daughter and I fell asleep on the couch watching a documentary on animals this room is at the top of the stairs the wheel is at the bottom of the stairs. About ten mins ago I woke up to the sound of a hamster wheel. I woke her up then asked if she still had the wheel set up down stairs and she said yes but that sound  had to be from the two wheels in the bedroom.  I got up and walked half way to the stairs when the sound stopped.  Got to the top of the stairs and looked down could not see any movement at the bottom of the stairs.  Flipped the light switch at the top of the stairs and still not movement at the bottom.  Walked down the stairs and still no movement so I was starting to think my daughter was right.  But I should check it out all the same. I get to the very bottom of the stairs figuring I heard either the wheels in the bedroom or that I had scared the hamster away already.  But I looked in the cardboard box where she had made a little house and sure enough there was the hamster watching me the whole way down the stairs.  I flipped the food bowl over and caught it.  I expected it to run like crazy from me but nope it was still use to humans.  My daughters are so happy as are me and my husband.  Them to have their pet back me not to have a rodent running free in the house.