Wildlife

The hoary marmot is a member of the rodent family. Hoary marmots have grizzled gray underparts, which gives them their name "hoary," with a light tan rump and lower back and black feet. Hoary marmots have black on their faces that shades to a whiter area in front between their eyes. Their underside is light colored and their tail has a light tan tip with brown on the top and dark brown below. Hoary marmots have stiff fur that distinguishes them from the soft-furred Alaska marmot. Male hoary marmots can reach 30 inches long and typically weigh 10 pounds or more. Females are slightly smaller. The hoary marmot is sometimes confused with the Arctic ground (parka) squirrel, but marmots are larger and have black feet.

Hoary marmots are most often seen around rock-slides and talus slopes. They eat primarily grasses, flowering plants, berries, mosses, and lichens. They may be best known for the shrill whistle they use to warn of intruders. Hoary marmots are true hibernators, typically entering their dens in September and emerging in late spring.

Breeding usually occurs April through May with young born in May or June. Usual litter size is two to six. Young remain with their family group until they are two months old, after which they set out on their own.

Resources:

Burt, William H. and Richard P. Grossenheider. 1980. Peterson field guide to mammals. Houghton Mifflin Company. Boston Massachusetts.

Alaska Geographic Society. 1996. Mammals of Alaska: a comprehensive field guide from the publishers of Alaska geographic. The Alaska Geographic Society. Anchorage Alaska.

For more information, visit the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's wildlife notebook pages.

Last updated: July 24, 2008