What do lemmings eat

The ermine weasel , Arctic fox , Snowy Owl, wolf and wolverine are just some of their enemies. Arctic foxes can sniff out lemmings in their burrows under the snow. Ermine weasels can fit down the lemmings' burrows. They chase the lemmings into their burrows and kill them by biting their necks. When there are fewer lemmings, there are fewer predators animals that hunt lemmings for food.

The high number of lemmings helps to provide food for many animals. Many drown by running into the rivers and lakes. Living beneath the snow functions to keep them safe from predators. It also keep them warm, as underground temperatures are typically higher than air temperatures.

When the colony becomes too crowded due to overpopulation, individual lemmings will relocate in search of food and a less populated habitat. Even though they spend part of their time in colonies with others of their kind, lemmings are solitary animals. They come together only to mate. They are also quite aggressive toward predators, which can sometimes get them into serious trouble.

Mother lemmings feed and care for their young until they are old, big, and strong enough to care for themselves. Gestation only lasts about three weeks, and newborns are small and weak.

Contrary to what many people believe, lemmings are not prone to committing mass suicide by running over cliffs. This myth started with a Disney movie called "White Wilderness," but there's absolutely no truth to it at all. Sandra Ketcham has nearly two decades of experience writing and editing for major websites and magazines.

They have 4 toes and 1 small, nailed thumb on the forefeet and 5 toes on the hind feet. Females have 6 mammary glands, which distinguishes this species from its closest relative, northern bog lemmings , which have 8 mammary glands. Southern bog lemmings are found in eastern North America, from southern Quebec and Manitoba in Canada to western Minnesota, to southwestern Kansas, and east to the Atlantic coast of the United States.

Southern bog lemmings occur in a wide variety of habitats. In Michigan, they can be found in clear cuts, old fields, or upland woods. They prefer areas with a thick mat of herbaceous and shrubby vegetation.

They tend to live in habitats within their geographic range where they do not have to compete with meadow voles. Southern bog lemmings use runways to travel, which are often located among roots of shrubs or beneath sphagnum moss.

They also create round nests 15 to 20 cm in diameter that are made of dry leaves, grass, and some soft material like fur.

Nests have 2 to 4 entrances. In the summer, nests are often placed on the ground amidst grassy vegetation or on top of sphagnum hummoks. In the winter, nests are commonly found 10 to 15 cm below the ground. Little is known about the mating systems of southern bog lemmings. Southern bog lemmings breed year round, especially where there is plentiful food. Most young are born between April and September.

Females may have many litters in a year--one captive female bore 6 litters in 22 weeks. Females produce 2 or 3 litters per year in the wild. Pregnancy lasts from 23 to 26 days. Average litter size is 3 to 5 individuals but can range from 1 to 8. Young weigh on average 3. They also have claws at birth. By the end of their first week, young are well furred.

They open their eyes at about 12 days of age. Females nurse their young for 3 weeks. Male southern bog lemmings reach sexual maturity in 5 weeks.

Most individuals breed before they reach their maximum size. Little is known about parental investment of southern bog lemmings. Females give birth in a nest or an underground burrow, and they nurse their young for 3 weeks. Southern bog lemmings usually do not live for more than a year in the wild. In captivity, they may live up to 29 months. Southern bog lemmings are active throughout the day and night, but are most active during the afternoon and night.

Southern bog lemmings can be colonial, living in groups of a few to several dozen individuals. They often live in the same area as other species of voles , white-footed mice , deer mice , shrews and moles. Southern bog lemmings generally dominate when they encounter other voles.

Southern bog lemmings may use runways and tunnels of other species, but they often create their own. Runways are 2. They trim back new vegetation from their runways, so there is often dead grass nearby.