Lemmings

• Lemmings are small rodents who live throughout the arctic in tundra or boggy habitats. They are four or five inches long, with a short tail, furry feet, and small ears.
• A European species of lemmings is famous for making devastating migrations in enormous numbers at long and irregular intervals.
• You could say that lemmings "stampede." Without the hoofbeats. Whales stampede, too. No hoofbeats either.
• Lemmings are "homebodies"...they tend to stay close to their burrows and take care of their offspring.
• Lemmings produce four times as many females as males.
• The main ingredient in the arctic fox's diet is lemmings. The more they eat, the more little foxes there'll be in a litter.
• The collared lemming is the only true rodent that turns white in the winter.
• Baby lemmings are born under the snow and drink their mother's milk to survive.
• Each female may have up to 3 litters a year with an average of 4 and one half young per litter.
• Lemmings have smaller ears and tails than other rodents. Less surface area reduces heat loss. That means there is less skin area for heat to escape from.
• A month after lemmmings are born, they are ready to mate. Few lemmings live over a year.