# Where Do Brown Lemmings Live?

> Where brown lemmings live: Arctic and alpine tundra of Scandinavia and Russia, native range cues, and human overlap. Status Least Concern.

- **Species:** Brown Lemming (*Lemmus lemmus*)
- **Conservation status:** Least Concern
- **Diet:** Herbivore — grasses, sedges, moss, and bark
- **Habitat:** Arctic and alpine tundra of Scandinavia and Russia
- **Lifespan:** 1–2 years in the wild (short-lived rodent)
- **Top speed:** Up to 8 km/h (5 mph); scurries through tundra runways
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/lemming/where-do-lemming-live/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/lemming/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

The brown lemming is a small, stocky rodent of the Arctic and alpine tundra of Scandinavia and Russia. Weighing only 30 to 112 g and measuring about 15 cm, it feeds on grasses, sedges, moss, and bark and stays active all winter beneath the snow. Lemmings are famous for dramatic population booms and crashes, and they live just one to two years. The species is listed as Least Concern.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need a sighting hotline. This page is native range and habitat.

## Size and appearance

The brown lemming is a small, round-bodied rodent with dense fur, short legs, tiny ears, and a very short tail, all adaptations for conserving heat in the cold. It weighs only 30 to 112 g and measures around 15 cm long, with its weight varying through the seasons. Its thick coat and compact shape reduce heat loss in the harsh tundra climate. Strong claws help it dig burrows and tunnels through soil and snow.

## Help protect the Brown Lemming

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/lemming/where-do-lemming-live/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.