Northwest History. Alaska, Menace & Pests. United States.

• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1930
• Subjects: Alaska; rodent wave; Fort Yukon; migration; lemmings; Canada; Point Barrow; Chandalar and Porcupine rivers; Yukon river; abundance of lynx; Arctic ocean; Northwest; Pacific > History > 20th century; Arctic; Arctic Ocean; Canada Point; Pacific; Yukon; Barrow; Lynx
• Online Access: http://content.libraries.wsu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/clipping/id/101067

Alaska Fears Rodent Wave: Approach Of Lemmings In Periodic Migration Indicated. ALASKA FEARS KOBMT WAVE Approach of liemmings in Periodic Migration Indicated. PORT YUKON, Alaska.—About bnce in a decade a wave of lemmings, small arctic rodents, sweeps across a part of eastern Alaska-and northwestern Canada. ' 'The last large number noted. was in the winter of 1918, bu,t. there are indications that they areagain numerous between here and-Point Barrow, especially in the region between the Chandalar and Porcupine rivers. Ten years ago lemmings migrated northward and near Point Barrow thousands were drowned when they followed leaders off the ice into the Arctic ocean. Rlvermen passing here fieclaTed a southward movement met a similar fate in the Yukon river, Which the lemmings attempted to cross. The rodent is about seven inches long, with round gopher head, black ratlike eyes, rich red-brqjyn fur and aistubby tail. A feature of periodical increase of lemmings noted by trappers is the' abundance ' of lynx in the same localities.