Climate change pushing lemmings over the edge: study

AFP on Yahoo ^ | 11/6/08 | AFP

[NormsRevenge]

PARIS (AFP) – Once famous for their numbers, Norwegian lemmings are disappearing, say scientists, who point an accusing finger at global warming.

The hamster-like rodents burst forth in massive numbers from their sub-Arctic homes every three to five years in a frantic search for food.

The mad dash sometimes causes them to race over clifftops and plummet into the sea, thus giving rise to the theory -- now discounted -- of mass suicide.

Since 1994, these periodic population explosions have stopped, prompting researchers to ask why.

In a study published on Thursday, investigators say the blame lies not with too many predators or a fall in food supply, but changes in weather patterns.

They pored over lemming population data over a 27-year period from one site in Norway and found a clear link to warmer weather and sudden temperature changes that once were very rare but are now quite common.

[NormsRevenge]

Uff DUhhh!

[cripplecreek]

I thought the lemming leap was determined to be a hoax many years ago.

[bankcritic]

I wonder if I could use Global Warming to explain why the dollars in my wallet keep disappearing?

[americanophile]

Maybe this explains the appeal of Obama to the voters as well?

[SirJohnBarleycorn]

Lemmings gathered together, preparing to go over a cliff:

[hoosierham]

I confess!

My agents have been scattering the Pill in lemming feeding areas.

[TheBigIf]

Aaaaawwwwww!!!!!

I’ll bet that the poor little leftwing rodents have always been trying to save the earth by running off a cliff.

They are probally just being good little leftwing activists and reducing their carbon footprint.

I think that Al Gore should lead his whole movement in this direction.

[denydenydeny]

A contender for the most idiotic blame-it-on-Global-Warming story yet.

I grant you, it’s a great metaphor for the Global Warming movement. Still idiotic.

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

Climate change pushed the lemmings over the edge a long time ago.

[FTL]

Now there is some timely wit and cutting sardonic humor that you don’t see every day! Good one

[saganite]

These Lemming over population cycles probably recur every 50 years or so. We’ll find out sometime in the future after we’ve already decided to move back into caves that their population explosions are timed to the life cycle of the 50 year subarctic locust hatch. /s/

[RedMonqey]

"In northern Norway in 1970, lemmings were so common that snowploughs were used to clear the vast numbers of squashed animals from roads," they said.

So why do they think this(lemmings population) was normal and not a period of OVERpopulation and they later outstrpped their resources?

That's what the say of humans!!

[Anti-Bubba182]

"Climate change pushing lemmings over the edge: study"

No! They were betrayed by their leader.

[steelyourfaith]

 

Beam me to Planet Gore !

[Dr.Deth]

Best. Article Title. Ever.

Online Lemmings

[NormsRevenge]

A contender for the most idiotic blame-it-on-Global-Warming story yet.

—

Thanks for the nomination..It means a lot to me.. I must have posted hundreds like it the last few years. ;-)

[Know et al]

I wonder if I could use Global Warming to explain why the dollars in my wallet keep disappearing?

Not at the moment but you soon will.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Got too cold?