Lemmings belong to the rodent family. Outwardly, the animal strongly resembles a small hamster, has short ears and a small tail. The length of the little animal does not exceed 15 centimeters, and it weighs no more than 80 grams. Lemming coat is usually plain gray or brown. Sometimes there are representatives with light inclusions. In nature, there are several species of animals and some of them get a white color in winter.
Features of behavior
Lemmings-interesting facts about behavior. The main habitat of animals is considered tundra and forest tundra of North America. Some lemming species live in Eurasia, on the territory of the Arctic ocean Islands. Dense undercoat allows the animal to feel comfortable in the Northern regions.
Lemmings are considered loners, they do not tend to live in a pack. Scientists often call such animals selfish, because they never live in colonies and care only about themselves. The hole they are trying to do at a considerable distance from each other and get along poorly with other representatives of the animal world. When meeting with a man lemmings Express their discontent rising on his hind legs, he begins to emit high-pitched sounds. Do not tempt fate and approach at such a moment to the animal, because with a high probability lemming bite. Despite this militancy, the vercs are unable to protect themselves from serious predators. The main danger to them are ermines and owls.
Eat animals like food of plant origin. Favorite food for them are young shoots of trees and shrubs, fresh grass, mosses, berries. In search of a source of energy, they do not disdain the antlers of deer, which are able to completely gnaw. Lemming will not refuse and treats in the form of insects. A small animal is characterized by great voracity. For one day he is able to eat food twice as much as his own weight. Through this feature lemmings can not live permanently in one place, and they are forced to constantly move around in search of food. Love to travel inherent in their nature, so they are not afraid of various obstacles in the form of ponds or human settlements. Often their negligence leads to death, many animals die annually under the wheels of cars.
In winter, the claws of the animal turn into a kind of hoof.
This is a very brave animal, it can attack a person, a dog and even a cat (defending). Obviously, the harsh conditions of the North tempered this small rodent.
Kids
Lemmings are highly fertile. Even low temperatures are not an obstacle to reproduction, so females bring offspring even in winter. For year she will give birth twice, bringing on 5 or 6 cubs. If there is no shortage of food, the female can bring offspring 3 times a year, and the number of young can reach ten.
For growing kids adult lemmings make huge settlements, and for their kids build nests of grass. After two weeks of life, little lemmings become completely independent. In age two months they become adults and capable yield progeny. The average duration of the reconciliation is two years.
Often scientists cannot determine whether lemmings actually live in a particular area, and it is almost impossible to count their number. The fact that the animal is very careful and almost never comes out of his hiding place during the day. At night, it is also difficult to detect, because he never goes out into the open areas, constantly hiding among the mosses and stones.
For growing kids adult lemmings make huge settlements, and for their kids build nests of grass. After two weeks of life, little lemmings become completely independent. In age two months they become adults and capable yield progeny. The average duration of the reconciliation is two years.
Approximately every 30 years there is an increase in the population of animals. With a strong increase in the number of lemmings in one area, there is a very unusual behavior. Animals are beginning mass migration in southern side to the sea. When they reach the water, they swim away from the shore and often drown. Today, scientists have not been able to find an explanation for this phenomenon. Maybe the animals just want to move forward. Meeting on the way an obstacle in the form of the sea, the animals just do not want to stop, but also to overcome the long swim, they also can not.