The time I found a live hamster in a dryer vent

About two years back, I got a call for a dryer that wouldn't heat up. I figured it was the usual thermal fuse or heating element. I pulled the unit out, got my flashlight, and looked into the vent pipe. Instead of a lint clog, I saw two little eyes staring back at me. A full grown hamster was just chilling in there, surrounded by a huge nest of lint and dog hair. The homeowner's kid had lost it a month prior. I had to gently fish it out with a coat hanger and a shop vac on low suction. Now, I always shine that light and tap on the vent pipe before I stick my hand anywhere near it. I even keep a small animal carrier in my truck, just in case. Has anyone else pulled something truly alive out of an appliance?

4 comments

4 Comments

finley_smith2mo ago

Ever wonder what else is living in our walls? That hamster story makes me check my own vents now. Guess it's a good reminder to look before you reach into any dark hole.

casey2682mo ago

I used to think it was silly, but @finley_smith, you've got me checking my vents now too.

the_jessica2mo ago

Guess that hamster found the world's warmest, fluffiest apartment.

zarag1716d ago

I gotta push back on this whole "check your vents" panic @finley_smith is spreading. Finding a hamster in a dryer vent is a freak one in a million thing. People act like every dryer in the country is hiding a zoo. The odds of pulling a live animal out of a vent are basically zero. Most of the time you're just gonna find a clump of lint and maybe a dead mouse. Buying a pet carrier for your work truck over one weird story is overkill. You'd be better off spending that effort on cleaning out the actual lint trap and ductwork.