Yellow-Bellied Marmots
Marmots are large burrowing rodents that hibernate during the winter, and are about the size of a housecat. They are recognized by light brown fur, a yellowish belly, and whitish spot between eyes. Their ears are small and round, with a short, white muzzle and black nose. Their bodies are roundish, with a reddish-brown tail.

Habitat
Marmots are large burrowing rodents that hibernate during the winter and are about the size of a housecat. They are recognized by light brown fur, a yellowish belly, and a whitish spot between eyes. Their ears are small and round, with a short, white muzzle and a black nose. Their bodies are roundish, with a reddish-brown tail.

They typically like to live in open alpine habitats such as meadows, pastures, fields of gravel and scree, high forest edge, and herb-covered slopes. Marmots are herbivores and love feeding on nearby leaves, blossoms, grasses, and herbs. They will occasionally eat insects, grains, legumes, and fruit.

Hibernation period is from September to May- which will vary depending on snow-pack. Burrows can be 5-7 meters deep for hibernation- while their usual burrows are about a meter deep during the summer months.

If you hear a shrill whistle or chuck, this means that the marmots are letting each other know there may be a predator nearby.


Fun Facts
Marmots are rodents, closely related to both ground squirrels and prairie dogs.
The only US holiday named after an animal, Groundhog Day, is named after a marmot.
Marmots eat almost half of their bodyweight in food each day.
Sources
Yellow-bellied Marmot. (n.d.). Retrieved August 01, 2020, from http://naturemappingfoundation.org/natmap/facts/yellow-bellied_marmot_712.html