In cold, snowy, northern parts of the world, a small furry animal called a lemming makes its home. This plump little rodent is related to the mouse. Some are only 3 to 4½ inches long, including their stubby tail, while the largest can be over 8½ inches long.
Since they live in such cold climates, the Creator has kindly given lemmings warm coats and furry feet with padded soles. Their stubby tail, small ears and short legs are all wise provisions of the Creator. All of them would cost more food calories to keep warm if they were larger, and food can be hard to find where lemmings live.
Lemmings sit on the surface of the snow like little round balls when the sun is shining. This shape is perfect for them to absorb the most possible heat from the sun’s warming rays. Whether sitting or running around, the heat their body gives off is trapped between layers of hair, giving them a nice, warm coat.
In the winter, they live underneath deep winter snows, in air space called subnivean space, between the snow and the hard, cold ground. They don’t hibernate, but live active lives, eating grass or other plants. It is still very cold in the subnivean space, but it is warmer than the surface because the snow is good insulation.
During spring and summer, two or three litters of young are born and raised. Both male and female lemmings are ready to reproduce within weeks of being born. For these reasons, a lemming population can get ten times bigger in one year. Then there are plentiful meals for the hungry predators in the area. Arctic fox pups and snowy owl babies are both more successful during peak lemming years. But for some reason, every four years or so, lemming populations become almost extinct. Scientists don’t understand this cycle yet.
In Scandinavia, lemmings begin to migrate when they are too plentiful. Large numbers are funneled into valleys, as they run off to find new pastures. Eventually many run into lakes or the ocean where they are drowned. Some remain behind, raise new families, and in a few years their numbers greatly increase once again. This kind of migration doesn’t seem to happen with the Canadian lemmings.
While scientists don’t understand why the lemmings have such extreme cycles, we know that God knows everything, as our opening verse says. Did you know that He knows everything that concerns you, too? He understands everything about you. I hope you have learned to trust Him for His wonderful love and wisdom so that you ask Him for the guidance only He can give.
Did You Know?
In winter, lemmings live in a space called subnivean space, between the snow and the hard, cold ground.
Messages of God’s Love 8/24/2025