Rodent Residence

• This is a funky rodent house made out of a small pumpkin. It is super easy to make, and fun to watch your rodents run around and chew on. Fun Fact: Carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns is a popular Halloween tradition that originated hundreds of years ago in Ireland. Back then, however, jack-o'-lanterns were made out of turnips or potatoes; it wasn't until Irish immigrants arrived in America and discovered the pumpkin that a new Halloween ritual was born.

1. Pumpkin
2. Bowl/Dish
3. Knife
4. Small pair of tongs (optional)
5. Spoon
6. Rubber Spatula

Start by cutting a hole in the top of your pumpkin, make sure it is slightly tilted in so it will be able to be put back on. Once you have it opened, you can start gutting it.

First, get an image in your head or on a piece of paper of what you want your pumpkin hotel to look like. Then carve it out, and make sure to put an exit in the back.

Congrats, you did it! Your rodent hotel is finished! 😀

WARNING: Do your research on the rodent you have and if it can eat pumpkin. Don't keep it in its cage for more than one-day, open pumpkin rots very fast.

Gerbils: Can eat pumpkin in moderation, if they overeat they will get diarrhea.

Hamsters: Can eat pumpkin also in moderation. They can also eat other squashes such as butternut and spaghetti squash.

Rats: They can eat pumpkin but again in moderation.

Mice: Can eat pumpkin and love it if the seeds are exposed. Also, feed in moderation.

Squirrels: Love pumpkin but don't feed daily.

Hedgehogs: will happily eat some pumpkin but if they consume too much of the fiber present in pumpkins will most likely upset their stomachs

Guinea Pig: Can eat all parts of the pumpkin.