A small rodent of wet northern habitats. Restricted to bogs and fens; population fluctuations in sync with food cycles.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The southern bog lemming is a small North American lemming. Its range overlaps with the other species in genus Synaptomys, the northern bog lemming, in southeastern Canada, but extends farther south.
Source: Wikipedia — Southern bog lemming Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Stocky vole-like mammal; brown-gray back; very short tail.
Similar species. Northern Bog Lemming. True voles.
Voice. Squeaks.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Sedges, mosses, grasses.
Behavior. Southern populations of bog lemming. Restricted to specific cool wet habitats.
§ Range
Northeastern North America
§ Habitat
Bogs, fens, wet meadows, occasional grasslands
§ Threats
Bog drainage, peat mining, habitat fragmentation.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the southern bog lemming is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Support bog protection. Avoid peat-based potting mixes. Donate to wetland conservation.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Southern bog lemming
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Synaptomys cooperi
- IUCN Red List · taxon 14257
- iNaturalist · taxon 42953
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Synaptomys cooperi
§ Sources cited
- American Society of Mammalogists
- IUCN Red List 2016
