6 NEBRASKAland • MARCH 2018
A Mammal
Brief
By Lindsay Rogers
Although found throughout eastern
Nebraska, the southern bog lemming is
rarely talked about. This is due to two
factors: 1) They are not terribly common
within their range; and 2) They are easily
misidentified as voles. Smaller than a
prairie vole, the southern bog lemming's
total length is between 4-6 inches and
weighs 21-50 grams (about the weight of a
golf ball).
As their name suggests, southern
bog lemmings are often found in moist
habitats; in Nebraska this includes wetlands,
wet meadows and marshes. They can also be
found in grasslands and deciduous forests. They feed
mainly on grasses and clover but will also eat fruit, fungi, bark, snails,
slugs and beetles. As with other small mammals, they have numerous predators, including domestic dogs and
cats, raptors, badgers, weasels and snakes. They are active throughout the day, but are most active from dusk to
dawn. ■
Lindsay Rogers is an outdoor education specialist with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
PHOTO
BY
PHIL
MYERS,
HTTP://ANIMALDIVERSITY.ORG