Nebraskaland

NEBRASKAland March 2018

NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.

Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/946863

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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

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