Alpine marmot
The indispensable guest of our mountains
Marmots are social animals that live in family groups. They dig burrows consisting of long, highly branched tunnels in which they hibernate for up to six months during the winter. Marmots live in the mountains.
They are found in the Alps as well as in the Carpathians and have been successfully reintroduced in the Pyrenees. They generally live at altitudes above 1,500 meters, where the forest gives way to alpine meadows, grasslands, and shrubs.
Cautious by nature, marmots warn one another of imminent danger with high-pitched cries that sound like whistles. Their main predator is the golden eagle, followed by the fox. In case of danger, the colony takes refuge underground in the burrow.
IUCN status
The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN)
Description
Marmota marmota
Sciuridae
3 to 8kg
40 to 60cm
Alps, Carpathians, Pyrenees
Least Concern
15 to 18 years
Did you know?
Marmots easily get used to the presence of humans. It’s common to spot them in the mountains, not far from hiking trails in the midday sun.
Food
Marmots eat grass and leaves.
