Translations:AY Honors/Bogs & Fens/Answer Key/24/en

Synaptomys spp.

Bog Lemming (Synaptomys spp.)

Description: Bog lemmings are small rodents that are not true lemmings, but are more similar to voles. They like sphagnum bogs, swamps and forest meadows. They live in colonies, dig burrows and tunnels about 6 inches below the surface. The nests are connected by “highways” with multiple entrances. There are two extant species in the genus, the Northern Bog Lemming (S. borealis) and the Southern Bog Lemming (S. cooperi, shown).

Castor canadensis

Beaver (Castor canadensis)

Description: This is a very large brown rodent, with a flat tail, and large webbed feet. They chew trees down to build large dams and lodges and for food (bark). Beavers can change the environment by causing water to back up where it was not before or cut off water supplies all together. This can lead to the formation of a bog or fen and cause the downstream to slow or stop all together.