# Hoary Marmot (*Marmota caligata*) Hoary marmots are fluffy, friendly animals that live in the mountains. They love to sunbathe on rocks and make loud whistles to talk to each other! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 13 - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![Hoary Marmot](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Marmota_caligata_261093649_%28cropped%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Darren Obbard, CC BY 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marmota_caligata_261093649_%28cropped%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Hoary Marmot has thick, grizzly-grey fur with black feet and a dark, bushy tail. Its head is often darker, with a white patch on the snout. This large ground squirrel's distinctive 'hoary' appearance comes from the white tips on its guard hairs. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Sciuridae - **Genus:** Marmota ## Interesting facts - Hoary Marmots greet each other by gently pressing noses, almost like a kiss! - These big ground squirrels are nicknamed 'whistle pigs' because of their loud alarm calls! - They can pack on half their body weight in fat each summer, ready for winter hibernation. - They live in family groups, sharing burrows and often sunbathing together on sunny rocks. ## Special abilities - **Alarm Whistle:** Hoary Marmots can whistle loudly to warn their colony of danger, using a high-pitched call that travels far across mountain valleys. - **Hibernation Power:** Hoary Marmots undergo deep hibernation for up to 7-8 months, conserving energy through the harsh winter. - **Digging Expert:** Hoary Marmots are skilled diggers, creating complex burrows that provide shelter from predators and harsh weather. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 60-80 cm - **Weight:** 3-8 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 30 km/h - **Litter Size:** 2-5 - **Gestation:** 30-32 days ## Diet & Feeding These mountain residents love to munch on a variety of plants found in their alpine home. - **Primary Foods:** Grasses, Wildflowers, Forbs, Berries, Mosses, Lichens - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Golden Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/golden-eagle) (*Aquila chrysaetos*) — A swift aerial predator, it preys on marmots from above. - **Eaten by:** [Grizzly Bear](https://www.snappit.app/explore/grizzly-bear) (*Ursus arctos*) — Bears dig marmots from their burrows for a meal. - **Eaten by:** Grey Wolf (*Canis lupus*) — Wolves hunt marmots in open areas where they can chase them. - **Eats:** Idaho Fescue (*Festuca idahoensis*) — Hoary Marmots graze on this common grass in their habitat. - **Eats:** [Heartleaf Arnica](https://www.snappit.app/explore/heartleaf-arnica) (*Arnica cordifolia*) — They consume the leaves and flowers of this mountain plant. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Hibernating](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/hibernating): Hibernating animals enter a state of metabolic depression during cold periods or when food is scarce, characterized by reduced body temperature and activity. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch from a distance and do not try to touch or feed wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Hoary Marmot? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Hoary Marmot? 60-80 cm ### How much does Hoary Marmot weigh? 3-8 kg ### How long does Hoary Marmot live? 10-15 years ### How fast can Hoary Marmot move? 30 km/h ### What does Hoary Marmot eat? These mountain residents love to munch on a variety of plants found in their alpine home. ### Where is Hoary Marmot usually found? Mountain regions ### How does Hoary Marmot hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Great Northern Railway Buildings](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/great-northern-railway-buildings) — Montana, US · Historic Site - [Garibaldi Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/garibaldi-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Headquarters Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/headquarters-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District - [Paradise Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/paradise-historic-district) — Washington, US · Historic District - [Sunrise Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sunrise-historic-district) — Washington, US · Historic District - [Swiftcurrent Ranger Station Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/swiftcurrent-ranger-station-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District [View all places to see Hoary Marmot](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/hoary-marmot) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Hoary Marmot: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hoary-marmot)