Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library.
Contributed by Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley.
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Transcription
Sullivan J.
Pitt Point, Alaska
Journal
July 10 (cont.) and released. It was marked 0000 - adult. After release, I followed the animal. At first it ran off as fast as it could - following runways. At one time, the lemming lay flat and motionless in the runway. It went from burrow to burrow and broke from cover when I poked around its hiding place. Maximum distance traveled (paced) - 165 feet. The animal wretched and fed at times when I was not too close (10 feet). It fed by snipping the grass shoot at its base with its teeth, then holding the grass in the forepaw, ate from base to apex of the blade. Three long-tailed pigeons were also hunting in this vicinity. A herd of caribou (containing hundreds of animals) had crossed the river and was approaching the station.
1500-1630 - set traps in both areas where lemmings had been encountered. 15 traps were set in the area where 0000 had been found this morning. They were set in rows of 5-20 feet apart. The traps were baited with fresh grass as well as a little peanut butter-bacon fat-stone oil on the treadle. Looked for the lemmings but did not see them. 1900-2300 went with the skin and another fellow while seeking heated caribou. Helped carry back two of the animals - two were