Lemmings periodically commit mass suicide by jumping off cliffs when their population becomes too large.
This myth originated from a 1958 Disney documentary that staged false footage. Lemmings do migrate when populations exceed local food supply, and some die during migration due to accidents, predation, and starvation, not intentional suicide. The mass fatalities are tragic but result from survival desperation during migration, not a deliberate suicidal behaviour.
Reception
Sources
- Snopes: Lemming Suicide REFERENCE
- BBC: The Truth About Lemmings REFERENCE