There are fifteen different species of marmot that range throughout the world. This is the yellow-bellied marmot that inhabits high alpine regions of the Sierra and Rocky Mountains. September is the time of year that they start to hibernate. They’ll remain in hibernation for eight months, emerging from their burrows ready to fatten up again come April. I photographed this one years ago while searching for mountain goats on Mount Evans in Colorado. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 350mm) ISO 400, f/5 at 1/250th of a second
Sweet capture! This image takes me back to our journeys into the High Sierras. Many was the time that my husband and I would make a stop at the Olmstead Point lookout on the Tioga Pass Road, once the road opened each spring. Backpacking, photography, trout fishing and general communing with Nature-at-her-finest would take us east from the crowded Bay Area roads. I don’t recall a single trip where we were not captivated by one or more of these delightful critters. Thanks for the memories, Sean!
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There are fifteen different species of marmot that range throughout the world. This is the yellow-bellied marmot that inhabits high alpine regions of the Sierra and Rocky Mountains. September is the time of year that they start to hibernate. They’ll remain in hibernation for eight months, emerging from their burrows ready to fatten up again come April. I photographed this one years ago while searching for mountain goats on Mount Evans in Colorado.
chubby looking fellow….is he related to beavers or other buck-toothed small furry animals?
Yes, marmots are in the rodent family like beavers and woodchucks.
——- Matty told Hatty
——- About a thing she saw
——- Two big teeth
——- And a wooly maw
——- Wooly bully wooly bully
——- Wooly bully .
Sweet capture! This image takes me back to our journeys into the High Sierras. Many was the time that my husband and I would make a stop at the Olmstead Point lookout on the Tioga Pass Road, once the road opened each spring. Backpacking, photography, trout fishing and general communing with Nature-at-her-finest would take us east from the crowded Bay Area roads. I don’t recall a single trip where we were not captivated by one or more of these delightful critters. Thanks for the memories, Sean!
I would have thought it was a beaver , must really fatten up to hibernate that long but took time to pose for you
Aunt Sue
Absolutely adorable image! I love the colors and his/her pose too.