Mammal · GBIF taxon 2437369
Yellow-bellied Marmot
Marmota flaviventrisAlso known as Rock Chuck, Yellowbelly Marmot
Yellow-bellied marmots spend their sunny summer days foraging in alpine meadows and sunbathing on rocky outcrops, which serve as lookout posts for predators. These highly social rodents live in colonies dominated by a single territorial male and several breeding females, communicating through a series of sharp, high-pitched whistles when danger approaches. By late summer, they double their body weight to survive an incredibly long eight-month hibernation deep within their rocky burrows.
DiurnalSocialAlpine
- diet
- Herbaceous plants, seeds, flowers, insects, and bird eggs
- family
- Sciuridae
- threats
- Climate change reducing snowpack, habitat fragmentation, and domestic dog attacks
- life Span
- Up to 15 years
LC
Capable of a painful bite if cornered; observe their social colonies from a respectful distance.
Equipped with strong incisors and sharp claws, they can inflict deep bites and scratches if cornered or handled.
Never attempt to feed or touch them; maintain a distance of at least fifteen feet.- Listen for alarms: Pay attention to their sharp, bird-like chirps, which signal that they have spotted you or another intruder.
- Scan the rocks: Look for their silhouettes sunbathing on large boulders, which they use as thermal heat pads and lookout points.
- Keep dogs leashed: Keep pets on a leash in alpine zones to prevent stressful chases and protect marmot colonies.