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Lemming Population Flux Solved: Mass Suicide Not to Blame

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the games-to-stand-as-is dept.

quogmire writes "Australia's ABC reports that biologists from the Universities of Finland and Freiburg (Germany) have finally solved the question of lemming population fluctuations once thought to be caused by lemmings mass-suiciding by plunging off cliffs. 'Lemming populations, they say, surge spectacularly and fall just as quickly, thanks to the combined feasting of four predators: the stoat, arctic fox, snowy owl and a seabird called the long-tailed skua.' The original article (Login required) is published in Science."

5 of 181 comments (clear)

  1. Boooooring... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    This article is so boring.. I even don't know what to troll about...

    next...

  2. Bastards! by Doomrat · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Thanks scientists, for destroying the magic behind my favourite game.

  3. Not true by CGP314 · · Score: 1, Redundant

    Lemmings jump because of Disney

  4. Origin of this legend by Psychic+Burrito · · Score: -1, Redundant
    The idea that Lemmings commit suicide was introduced by Disney in their documentary White Wilderness.

    According to some urban legend, the film makers induced lemmings into jumping off a cliff to "document" this behaviour. Interestingly, according to Snopes, this appears to be actually - true!

    I guess the credits didn't include the claim "no animals were harmed during the making of this movie"... :-(

  5. I knew this all along! by CrystalFalcon · · Score: -1, Redundant

    It's not suicide, it's me who clicked that little "Bomb" button on the panel, next to the digging button.

    They're cute when they blow. :-)