They die after getting wet because people put them in a nice, drafty cold place where they get sick then die. If you get your hamster wet, put him in a terry cloth towel and rub his fuzzy butt gently until he's all fluffy again. You might piss him off, but at least he'll be dry and not catch a cold. Chinchillas can't get wet. If you get Chinchilla fur wet, it -doesn't- dry because of the oils and the nature of the hair folicles. In which case, the chinchillas get really sick and die of cold. That's why it's important to give chinchillas dust baths and not water baths. But hamster/gerbils/mice, they shouldn't die because they get wet. In fact, most of 'em are champion swimmers if you let them be.<G> Just don't let them drown.
~~Colesea