Lemmings are little rodents that sometimes move from place to place in large numbers. Even so, the legend that they purposely drown themselves by marching into the sea is untrue. In fact, lemmings generally try to avoid water. They more commonly face such dangers as a harsh climate, a varying food supply, and many predators.

Where lemmings live

Lemmings are animals of the far north. They are found in the polar regions of North America, Europe, and Asia and in nearby areas with slightly milder climates. They live in a variety of environments, including dry grasslands, rocky tundra, bogs, and forests.

Physical features

Lemmings are about 4 to 7 inches (10 to 18 centimeters) long including the short tail. The body is chunky, which helps the animal stay warm in cold weather. The soft fur is grayish or reddish brown on top and paler below. The fur gets thicker in winter. Many lemmings of the Arctic have fur that turns totally white in winter.

Behavior

Lemmings live in burrows. In the winter they tunnel under the snow. Lemmings eat mosses, roots, grasses, and other vegetable matter. In turn, lemmings are eaten by many predators, including foxes, weasels, owls, hawks, wolves, and gulls. They are an important part of the Arctic food chain.

Lemmings reproduce quickly. When enough food is available, lemming populations increase dramatically. For reasons that scientists still do not understand completely, the creatures increase greatly in number every three or four years.

When the number of lemmings is high, some lemmings decide to move to new areas. Lemmings tend to follow paths and roadways made by people and other animals. Sometimes they are forced off of these paths by an obstacle. In such cases they may have to cross a river or jump from a cliff. Some lemmings that go into the water will drown.

Life cycle

Lemmings tend to breed from spring to fall. Female lemmings can produce up to nine babies at a time. The pregnancy lasts about 20 days, and the female may breed again afterward. A young female lemming may be ready to breed when it is less than 3 weeks old. The life span of a lemming is generally less than 2 years.