where are hamsters native to

Hamsters are native to various parts of Europe and Asia, with around 24 species found in regions including the Middle East, Southeast Europe, and Asia Minor. The most popular pet hamster, the Syrian hamster, originally comes from Syria. Wild hamsters inhabit dry temperate zones, deserts, grasslands, meadows, farmlands, fields, gardens, and sand dunes. They can be found in countries spanning from Western Europe through Central and Eastern Europe into Western Asia, including places like Syria, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Greece, Turkey, and others. Hamsters are adapted to burrowing and live in habitats where they can access food such as seeds, grains, fruits, and insects. Their native environments range from deserts and steppes to temperate grasslands.