Mammal · GBIF taxon 2437374
Olympic Marmot
Marmota olympusAlso known as Olympic Peninsula Marmot
Olympic marmots thrive in subalpine meadows and scree slopes exclusive to Washington state's Olympic Mountains. These highly social rodents spend sunny summers foraging on alpine wildflowers and lounging on rocks, using loud whistles to alert their colony to overhead eagles or approaching coyotes. Winters are spent in extensive subterranean burrows, where tight-knit family groups hibernate together for up to eight months.
EndemicAlpineSocial
—observations
—countries
—peak records
EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXEndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Subalpine Grasses
- Lupine
- Glacier Lily Bulbs
Predators
- Coyote
- Cougar
- Golden Eagle
ThreatsCoyote predation, climate change, shrinking subalpine meadows
HabitatsSubalpine meadows, talus slopes, alpine scree
Life span10–14 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderRodentia
- FamilySciuridae
- GenusMarmota
- SpeciesMarmota olympus
Native
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Capable of a painful bite if cornered; keep a respectful distance and never feed.
- What to notice
- Look for a large, heavy-bodied rodent with yellowish-brown fur, a dark head with a white patch on the snout, and a bushy tail.
- Support conservation
- Observe strictly from established trails, keep dogs leashed, and avoid disturbing burrow entrances.
Responsible observation
- Listen for whistles: A sharp whistle alerts the colony to danger and signals nearby presence.
- Stay on marked trails: Subalpine meadow soils and burrow entrances erode quickly under foot.
- Refrain from feeding: Human food disrupts natural diets and encourages unsafe habituation.
Predator Giles Laurent / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative no rights reserved, uploaded by Braden J. Judson · cc0
Close Relative (c) yongestation, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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Found in Collections
Species set
Urban Dwellers
Olympic Marmot is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.
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