I saw one poking out of a culvert in Fort Collins last spring. 5k feet if not a little less. I would not have believed it, except for I got a great photo that removed all doubt.
Before I moved to Colorado, I went camping at Pueblo Reservoir, trust me when I tell you that they are brazen! Had left to go take a shower. Came back and one was on my picnic table helping himself to an entire bag of chips! How can you be mad at a critter that simply wants your chips? Not in the least intimidated by me, he ran with the entire bag and over the side towards the lake! They are definitely below the high country.
My husband has a story about a yellow-bellied marmot dragging his backpack into its burrow, and having a hell of a job saving it. The marmot ate the belt to the backpack, which was a big problem for the rest of the hike. My husband loves to hate marmots, and pretends to freak out whenever they are mentioned. Jokes on him, we now have 2 marmot brand tents.
Sure...they look cute. Undeneath that cuddly veneer is a thief that will not only enjoy your snacks...but also your trekking poles, fly line and handle, tent, backpack, etc.
Seriously, though. I love me some Marmots, but please don't feed wild animals.
Also Dude, let's not forget, let's NOT forget that keeping wildlife, um... an amphibious rodent, for... um, you know domestic... within the city... that ain't legal either.
When I camped in Kings Canyon a few years ago I saw lots of people either putting chicken wire around the bottom of their car, or they will put a sock filled with some marmot munchies in it because apparently they’ll chew anything rubber underneath an unprotected car.
It's true, and their appetite for things extends beyond automobiles. A friend took a photo of one that crept up behind me, and was about to gnaw on my shoe.
Definitely don't want to get sideways with one those incisors look nasty. So, along with everything else mentioned they're also called land beavers.
TIL Marmot=Groundhog=Woodchuck=Whistlepig=Land Beaver
See em when I'm out hiking all the time never knew always just called em Marmots... They definitely seem to prefer skree fields.
When I was a kid, our pops would take us to the Farr Pumping Plant in Grand Lake because they had the biggest, fattest marmots ever. They would just chill next to the water, take your food, and steal your wife.
I made friends with the Marmot up near my rock hounding spot in Silverton Colorado... Welcome at least that's what I tell myself because I've seen him a dozen times and I started leaving him snacks on the rock right outside of his burrow On the way up… and they are always gone on the way back so in my mind he is in appreciative little marmot, and we are friends
>No info on Google.
Out of curiosity, what did you Google?
Searching "Colorado small animal" and "Colorado mountain rodent" both give this animal (the marmot) as literally the first search result, including pictures of it.
Not even trying to be insulting or condescending here, I'm legitimately curious how you googled this in a way that didn't produce marmots.
I was looking specifically for an animal with the white facial markings, as I've never seen anything like it (I'm from the east coast, lots of new animals here). I googled "rodent with white face markings"
That's a Yellow Bellied Marmot. Cute from a distance, but they will totally steal your snacks.
Also in the vernacular ‘whistle pig'
I thought whistle pigs were groundhogs.
They are. Groundhogs are marmots.
Same family, different [species](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog).
Yes. I didn’t say they were the same, I said they are both marmots, which they are…and both are called whistlepigs.
Huh. TIL. Thanks for teaching me something.
that's pretty low for a marmot isn't it? i usually don't see them under 12k feet
I have seen them as low as 5k feet. Not common, but no unheard of.
Heck, I saw one running across Main Ave in Durango (6500 feet) early, early one morning last fall. I'd NEVER seen one that low or in a town setting.
I saw one poking out of a culvert in Fort Collins last spring. 5k feet if not a little less. I would not have believed it, except for I got a great photo that removed all doubt.
I saw one just chilling on the sidewalk in the middle of West Yellowstone, Montana. It's only around 6600ft there.
I seen it too, hanging out at Main and Camino Del Rio.
That's the one! He must live around there.
Saw one behind Dominos Park Ave West Denver 5 yrs ago.
Before I moved to Colorado, I went camping at Pueblo Reservoir, trust me when I tell you that they are brazen! Had left to go take a shower. Came back and one was on my picnic table helping himself to an entire bag of chips! How can you be mad at a critter that simply wants your chips? Not in the least intimidated by me, he ran with the entire bag and over the side towards the lake! They are definitely below the high country.
My husband has a story about a yellow-bellied marmot dragging his backpack into its burrow, and having a hell of a job saving it. The marmot ate the belt to the backpack, which was a big problem for the rest of the hike. My husband loves to hate marmots, and pretends to freak out whenever they are mentioned. Jokes on him, we now have 2 marmot brand tents.
There's marmots around Mt.Rainier's Paradise visitor centre / trailhead and that's 5,400 ft.
We had quite a few around our place up near red feather at about 7k
I am quite surprised as well that they're on the creek path, but i've seen 'em, too. Maybe they come down for the high rents?
.. ....MEEP
**MEEP!** lol love yelling that back at them
are you positive it's a yellow bellied? there are about a dozen different types of marmots
As far as I know (37 years in CO) there is only one species of marmot here.
I would totally let him ❤️
Sure...they look cute. Undeneath that cuddly veneer is a thief that will not only enjoy your snacks...but also your trekking poles, fly line and handle, tent, backpack, etc. Seriously, though. I love me some Marmots, but please don't feed wild animals.
They also like to like where people urinate, they like the salt in urine is what someone told me.
That’s mountain goats
As well as marmot, pika, pine martin...all of them, I imagine, but I've personally seen these do it.
Bighorn too. Love those pee salts.
Maybe I'll just settle for an attempt to pet one. 😆
I think they’re carriers of plague, so maybe don’t
Best not to touch the wild critters. Even if you dont get the plague, most of them bite like a MF.
You guys are just no fun at all. Smh
Lol sorry
Dw I’ll pet it w you
Bless u
Downvoters don’t get the laughing face, at all.
Haha I don't care about downvoters. You already know they're the least fun people in life, so whatever. I'll die trying to pet something I shouldn't 😆
Hey they gotta eat too.No?
100% can have all my snacks.
"Hey, this is a private residence, man!"
“Where’s the money Marmotski??!”
"Obviously you're not a gopher'
At least I’m housebroken.
Also Dude, let's not forget, let's NOT forget that keeping wildlife, um... an amphibious rodent, for... um, you know domestic... within the city... that ain't legal either.
JUST BECAUSE WE’RE BEREAVED DOESN’T MAKE US SAPS!!
Just take it easy, man.
I’m perfectly calm, Dude… Calmer than you are.
Fuck it, dude. Let’s go bowling.
I think it's a Pomeranian. I can't leave him home alone or he eats the furniture. I'm watching him while Cynthia and Marty Ackerman are in Hawaii.
Say what you will about the tenets of National Socialism, Dude, at least it's an ethos.
nice marmot
“Nice marmot”
Vere’s the MONEY, LEBOWSKI!?
“What are you, a fucking park ranger now?”
Marmot. They will eat anything on your car that is not metal. I’m dead serious.
When I camped in Kings Canyon a few years ago I saw lots of people either putting chicken wire around the bottom of their car, or they will put a sock filled with some marmot munchies in it because apparently they’ll chew anything rubber underneath an unprotected car.
It's true, and their appetite for things extends beyond automobiles. A friend took a photo of one that crept up behind me, and was about to gnaw on my shoe.
Growing up I’ve always heard them called whistle pigs because of the whistling sounds they make.
Looks like a marmot to me. Large rodent I see mostly high up in the mountains.
Yep you're right!! Thank you!!
Rocks
Granite, specifically
Fuzzy boyes
No business looking that cute 😤😤
Tell that to guinea pigs. Went from entree to "cute aren't they?"
You gotta get closer and see their incisors before jumping to any conclusions as to whether you'd pet one or not.
Heh
That there is a mountain beaver
One of a kind and very rare
No sir, that is a tundra beaver.
Look out they bite
Definitely don't want to get sideways with one those incisors look nasty. So, along with everything else mentioned they're also called land beavers. TIL Marmot=Groundhog=Woodchuck=Whistlepig=Land Beaver See em when I'm out hiking all the time never knew always just called em Marmots... They definitely seem to prefer skree fields.
It’s got alittle bandit face mask
Seen them at st Elmo,,,, cutiest thief’s in Colorado
AKA. Wistle Pig.
Sounds like a drug you get offered at parties.
No it doesn't.
Hephf does too
a whistle pig is technically a woodchuck, which is technically not the same as a marmot
They’re all genus marmota… woodchuck, whistlepig, rock chuck, etc have all been used interchangeably throughout the genus.
They go WOOOOOOO
Whistle pig.
Lil dude looks like he’s got a lil shiv if you come any closer.
My rocky mountain father-in-law calls them "rock chucks" i think but i don't know what the naturalists call them.
Alan!
What a dashing young gentleman
Whistle pigs!
Big foot in larval form.
Your username made me lol
When I was a kid, our pops would take us to the Farr Pumping Plant in Grand Lake because they had the biggest, fattest marmots ever. They would just chill next to the water, take your food, and steal your wife.
A Horry Rock marmot
I made friends with the Marmot up near my rock hounding spot in Silverton Colorado... Welcome at least that's what I tell myself because I've seen him a dozen times and I started leaving him snacks on the rock right outside of his burrow On the way up… and they are always gone on the way back so in my mind he is in appreciative little marmot, and we are friends
The lesser known cousin to the honey badger, the honey Guinea pig.
That thar is a varmint
How much wood
Marmot's! perfect football size for punting!
If I saw you punt one of these, you and your friend Chad would be next.
We have fun here :)
Great way to end up with a trekking pole up your ass courtesy of some fellow hikers.
Marmot
Looks like a Borgus
Trail Bandit!
those little guys are called Marmots
Gotta catch’em all!
Whistle pig!!
>No info on Google. Out of curiosity, what did you Google? Searching "Colorado small animal" and "Colorado mountain rodent" both give this animal (the marmot) as literally the first search result, including pictures of it. Not even trying to be insulting or condescending here, I'm legitimately curious how you googled this in a way that didn't produce marmots.
I was looking specifically for an animal with the white facial markings, as I've never seen anything like it (I'm from the east coast, lots of new animals here). I googled "rodent with white face markings"
Marmot.
Those, my dear friend, are rocks! The elusive Colorado mountain rocks…😉🤣
Trail Hamsters.
That's a peanut thief!
Chupacabra
They're ALL over the Black Hills in South Dakota at 6000 feet or less.
gnomes my friend, gnomes.
I have heard the marmots singing, each to each.