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Hoary Marmot
Marmota caligata
46.786, -121.735
Field Notes
Description:
The hoary marmot (Marmota caligata) is a species of marmot and the largest North American ground squirrel. Often nicknamed "the whistler" for its high-pitched warning issued to alert other members of the colony to possible danger. The animals are sometimes called "whistle pigs". The closest relatives of the species are the yellow-bellied, Olympic, and Vancouver Island marmots, although the exact relationships are unclear.
Habitat:
Hoary marmots inhabit the mountains of northwest North America and live near the tree line on slopes with grasses and forbs to eat and rocky areas for cover.
Notes:
Spotted on the Skyline Loop Trail, Mt. Rainier NP. It was a very friendly marmot and approached us very close (I suspect many visitors feed them?). This is my 100th spotting! (A very small step, but still :-) )
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