Yellow-Bellied Marmot - Mt. Evans

The yellow-bellied marmot, though sometimes called a rockchuck, woodchuck, whistle pig, or ground hog, is actually a large ground squirrel.  But, no matter what you call it, it is still a rodent!  When threatened by predators the marmot chucks, whistles and trills to warn its colony. Yellow-bellied marmots spend much of their time sunbathing on rocky outcrops, socializing and grooming. Unlike their neighbor, the American Pika (previous blog post), marmots hibernate during the winter. To prepare for hibernation, they fatten up in the warmer months to ensure their survival until the emergence of vegetation in the spring. 

Mount Evans, Colorado. July 2013.

Canon EOS 50D | Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM