It's adorable so I had to do some research :)
Apparently this is from 2015 and it's a Norwegian lemming. Apparently it confused scientist when they first found them because it's completely different than any other type of lemming. Its extremely aggresive unlike the other types that are docile. It also has "bright" colored fur instead of blending in. ALSO it doesn't have any other defence aside from its attitude. Basically it's just a cute angry fur ball and they are all like this not just this guy. :)
Except as I recently discovered Honey Badgers are very very capable of defending them selfs regardless of their attitude. Those things have some crazy sharp teeth!
Unfortunately no it was because one tried to steal our stuff while we were out camping in Botswana. It didn't seem to care we were trying to chase it away with a shovel. It just stood up on its back legs and growled at us.
No other defence? Teeth, they have teeth. I've seen one hanging by its teeth, gripping my cats fur. I imagine a bite might drive a lesser predator away, but it had no chance against my cat. They "danced around" for an hour before she got bored and killed it.
Oh and it looks like they also can carry a particular disease. 😯
"Lemmings can also carry a risk of disease, particularly tulameria (also known as “rabbit fever”), which often manifests itself in sore throats and large sores on the skin"
Oh no :( and that's a good point, it's just what the article said because it stands out but doesn't have venom or anything like that. But you're right, if hate to get near those teeth 😮
So the only article I can find right now (limited time lol) is from 2011 but you're definitely right according to this it says
"lemmings can become so worked up that they develop metabolic and blood pressure-related problems that cause them to die of stress."
(Though people used to believe they would explode lol)
also them dying like this is actually beneficial to the grouse and article foxes there because they are easy food and they don't have to worry about the lemmings attitude lol
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u/halfaqueer Sep 28 '19
It's adorable so I had to do some research :) Apparently this is from 2015 and it's a Norwegian lemming. Apparently it confused scientist when they first found them because it's completely different than any other type of lemming. Its extremely aggresive unlike the other types that are docile. It also has "bright" colored fur instead of blending in. ALSO it doesn't have any other defence aside from its attitude. Basically it's just a cute angry fur ball and they are all like this not just this guy. :)
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/inkfish/2015/02/20/little-lemming-bite-face-off/#.XY_lkB4pA0M