Tips on catching a loose hamster?

Question:
 One of our hamsters is loose in the basment. This one of the hamsters we were out shopping and getting a new toy for the one hamster we had at the time (still have) and the girls were checking out the hamsters and fell for a couple, They asked me for htem I said "ask your father" figuring NO WAY in the world would he agree before I know it he's got someone getting hamsters out for them OHY.
Anyway this hamster is what i lovingly refer to as Pshyco hamster. She litterly attacks ANYTHING going near her or her cage, she use to SCREECH when you went to feed her, we have had her a for quite a long time nowo and STILL have not been able to pick her up without being bitten,she at least now dosent scream when I feed her that took MONTHS to get her to not do, I almost returned her but figured she wouldnt be put back for sale, so needless to say she became MY hamster and MY previouse hamster was taken over by one of the girls lol.
So long story short she has gotten out of her cage, was a large rubbermaid tote, that was nice a high and shes been living in it since we got her, well she apparently got her wheel over tot he side of her cage and hopped right out. I have been trying since late last night (she escaped while we at the xmas play of the girls) trying to catch her ive set up her cage with food water and a ramp leading into it (wheel removed) hoping to intice her in, being she HATES people I cant get her to come to me, im wondering any tips or pointers in a way to catch her? Theres so many things to hide in the basement right now (loads of 2x4's) couches, chairs, toys you name it and everything is in a huge section since were doing construction down there and all stuff is smashed toether out of the way.
Ive seen her a couple times just not quick enough to catch her, wondering if I got one of those humane mouse traps that they walk in and then just cant get out of would work?? I dont know how long she can survive in the basement ? Even though shes the MEANEST hamster ive EVER seen I dont want anything bad to happen to her, im picking up a new cage tonight and have a temp top to fix up for her if I can catch her to keep her in
HELP


Answer:
 I think if the ramp idea isn't working, a humane mouse trap is probably your best bet. If you could get a treat that she'd be able to smell, that might entice her into it. Good luck!


Answer:
 Good luck catching the hamster...hope she is safe and back in her cage soon!


Answer:
 Thanks I know shes OKAY, ive seen her so im not to worried about her as theres not really TO much that she can get hurt on more stuff to get INTO lol. The kids currently are banned from the basement so Im not worried about them stepping on her and I turned the heater on in the area shes in (she went right under the space at the door in my critter room where her cage was). So she was out in the unheated part but ive got the heater running I took down there) and she having a high old time I swear I can hear her laughing at me each time ive went to catch her Rotten little thing, good thing shes cute lol.
Oh BTW her name is Daisy, at least thats what Melissa named her when she first got her ive been calling her Psyco Daisy for almost a year now lol


Answer:
 If you can get some peanut butter it would definitely attract her.
Here are some suggestions I have found:
http://www.hamsterworld-info.s5.com/shopping_page.html
http://basic1.easily.co.uk/03A050/04...ontwo.html#b21


Answer:
 Is your basement undeveloped...or does it have individual rooms? If there are rooms, I would close all the doors and put food and water in each one. That way, you can at least narrow down what room she is in (by checking on the food and water).


Answer:
 Thanks for the links Sophie, Im going to go out tonight and get peanut butter and a humane trap. Ive got a bucket type set up like suggested but nothing so far but I just have her regualr food I dont have much in the way to intice her in (planned a trip to the grocery store tonight anyway).
Candice, our basment is semi done. Theres one room one but she can get in and out from under the door (theres a gap), and the others are framed in the process of being finished off. So its hard to shut her off into a small area. I hope the peanut butter will do the trick tonight little stinker, Im also stopping and picking up a new cage tonight, she decided to stuff her wheel with bedding and use it to get out (at least from what I can figure out).
Im wondering if I should put food water down NOW or wait till tonight to try to intice her into a box trap? She did eat and drink yesterday around 4 pm and I saw her RUN past me about 30 mins ago when I was down trying to catch her again lol


Answer:
 I'd wait until tonight to put food and water out. She's more likely to go into the trap if she's a bit hungry.
She stuffed her wheel with bedding to get out??? That's SOOO smart!


Answer:
 Yeah the little BRAT, I cant say that shes my favorite animal, i actually wasnt really one who WANTED any hamsters, The one I got was asked by a person we know if I could take it told them if they couldnt find someone else I would and in he came, then came THIS physco hamster and another hamster that my girls conned hubby into getting OHY. So now we have 3 lol. I do have to say the only one I have to care for his Phsyco Daisy, the girls take full care of the other two (of course I always check to make sure its done) and they do great.
If I can catch her Id be alot more releaved, Jason thinks its HYSTARIACL (sp) that Pyshco hamster is loose says im going to go down turn around and shes going to leap out at me.


Answer:
 Here's what you do just before bed:
In a small dry bucket, put a piece of bread covered with peanut butter in it next to a wall.
Place the end of a two by four on one edge of the bucket, and the other on the floor. The two by four acts as a ramp. Keep the end on the floor near the wall, too.
In the morning, you'll find the hamster in the bucket, a bit thirsty. Hamsters have a good sense of smell: he'll follow his nose, and drop into the bucket to get the prize. Then he won't be able to get out.
Good luck!