Marmots are large furry members of the squirrel family. They are about the size of a small dog. They can be frequently seen and heard in mountainous terrain. Marmots typically live in burrows dug from the soil or within rockpiles. They hibernate in their burrows through the winter. Marmots are highly social animals and may be seen in families. To communicate, they whistle loudly, especially when alarmed.
In Washington State there are three distinct varieties of marmot. The Hoary Marmot (Marmota caligata) lives in the Cascade Range, the Olympic Marmot (Marmota olympus) is endemic to the mountains of the Olympic Peninsula and the Yellow-Bellied Marmot (Marmota flaviventris) dominates the "desert" of central and eastern Washington. Marmots are mainly herbivorous. Their diet consists of grasses, berries, lichens, mosses, roots, and flowers.
The marmot should not be confused with the prairie dog which is smaller in size and more social. The prairie dog is not classified in the genus Marmota but in the related genus Cynomys. Groundhogs (Marmota monax), also called woodchucks, land-beaver or whistle-pigs are a very close relative of the marmot and are similar in size and appearance. It is the groundhog we celebrate every February 2nd as a symbol of the coming spring. According to legend, if the groundhog emerges from his burrow and sees his shadow, we are in for 6 more weeks of winter. If he doesn't see his shadow, spring is right around the corner.
In Washington State there are three distinct varieties of marmot. The Hoary Marmot (Marmota caligata) lives in the Cascade Range, the Olympic Marmot (Marmota olympus) is endemic to the mountains of the Olympic Peninsula and the Yellow-Bellied Marmot (Marmota flaviventris) dominates the "desert" of central and eastern Washington. Marmots are mainly herbivorous. Their diet consists of grasses, berries, lichens, mosses, roots, and flowers.
The marmot should not be confused with the prairie dog which is smaller in size and more social. The prairie dog is not classified in the genus Marmota but in the related genus Cynomys. Groundhogs (Marmota monax), also called woodchucks, land-beaver or whistle-pigs are a very close relative of the marmot and are similar in size and appearance. It is the groundhog we celebrate every February 2nd as a symbol of the coming spring. According to legend, if the groundhog emerges from his burrow and sees his shadow, we are in for 6 more weeks of winter. If he doesn't see his shadow, spring is right around the corner.
This gallery contains some of my favorite marmot images that are available as downloads and fine art prints. To view the gallery, click here or on the photo collage above. When you are in the gallery, click on a thumbnail to enlarge an image. To navigate the images click on the arrows. To see the captions click on the (i) symbol.
