Head to head
Collared Lemming vs Norway Lemming
The collared lemming and Norway lemming are both boom-and-bust tundra rodents that stay active all winter beneath the snow, but one turns white and grows special claws while the other keeps its bold black-and-tawny colouring.
| Collared Lemming | Norway Lemming | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Dicrostonyx groenlandicus | Lemmus lemmus |
| Range | Tundra across northern Canada, Alaska, and Greenland | Mountain tundra and moorland of the Scandinavian mountains and nearby northern Europe |
| Winter coat | Moults into a white coat that helps it blend into the snow | Stays black-and-tawny rather than turning white |
| Winter claws | Develops enlarged, split claws on its forefeet to dig through snow and frozen ground | Not specifically documented |
| Winter activity | Stays active all winter, tunnelling beneath the snow to reach food | Stays active all year in tunnels and burrows beneath the snow |
| Population swings | Numbers swing widely over a cycle of a few years, with peaks followed by sharp crashes | Populations rise sharply and then crash every few years, sometimes reaching very high numbers |
| Temperament | A stocky rodent with a very short tail and small ears hidden in its fur | Bold: rears up, hisses, and defends itself against much larger animals |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Collared Lemming vs Norway Lemming: common questions
Which lemming turns white in winter?
The collared lemming, which moults into a white winter coat that helps it blend into the snow, while the Norway lemming keeps its black-and-tawny coat.
Do lemmings really commit mass suicide?
No, the idea is a myth popularised by a 1958 film that staged the scenes; in peak years lemmings may disperse in search of food and some drown while trying to cross rivers or lakes.
Where do the collared lemming and Norway lemming live?
The collared lemming lives on Arctic tundra across northern Canada, Alaska, and Greenland, while the Norway lemming lives on mountain tundra and moorland in the Scandinavian mountains and nearby northern Europe.