Hoary Marmot
Marmota caligata
Appearance
Range & Habitat
Hoary marmots spend seven months hibernating after eating alpine plants and seeds all summer. In areas where there is enough food, they will live in a colony with a dominant male, females and offspring. They selectively forage. This means that they choose to eat their favorite plants rather than the most abundant plants.
The hoary marmot has many gifts, but they are most talented in communication. They have seven distinct calls, four of which are different alarm calls for fellow marmots in their colony. Many hikers will remark on the whistling sound of marmots in mountain parks. In their free time, marmots are quite carefree and playful individuals. They are extremely curious and may wrestle with each other when young!
These are an important species for humans to steward and protect due to their importance in grizzly bear diets. In the spring, summer and fall, the hoary marmot is one of the most important foods for grizzly bears.
Lifecycles
More Information
Photo: Canva