h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I always thought that the problem with lemmings was that they follow a set migratory route, despite the fact that over the centuries earthquakes etc. have opened up large cracks in the earth which have filled with water, and they are too stupid to change direction. The "cooling down in the summer" thoery could hold though (with global warming possibly having an impact!).
But either way, how on earth has the species survived this long?

I guess the reason for the Survival of Lemmings is that they always seemed to be taken care of.
A species named "Humans" gives direction to Lemmings, so they will arrive safely at their home again. And if they don't, some mighty Computer-Science Wizard makes the time go back and start the level again.

I think you have spent too long at your PC! But it's the best answer I have had so far (Ok the only one) so you'd get a prize if I was offerring one.
Is there no-one else out there who knows something about lemmings (the real kind)?

It's funny because I was wondering about the suicidal nature of lemmings only to discover that they really aren't suicidal at all. Their death is apparently just the unfortunate (and possibly inevitable) by-product of having to migrate when food is scarce. I guess that since they don't know where the nearest supermarket is and they don't have maps they must just follow one particularly convincing lemming leader and they are then in his or her hands as to whether they find food or not. If they find a cliff edge and a large body of water first then the leader probably falls off and snuffs it and evolution will be happy because he or she was foolish. The other lemmings would then swarm off in another direction, being led by lemming leader v2.

Hmm, that all sounds a bit daft and simplistic, but then again, humans struggle with complex answers when discussing ecology and evolution so perhaps it's better that way.