A medium sized western woodchuck having a variable shade of
reddish-brown fur and a dark brown tail. Has a small band of white
across the face. Total length up to 2½ feet and weight up to 20
pounds. They are 2 or 3 times larger than ground squirrels.
Marmots or "whistle pigs" as they are often called, are among the most
easily observed mammals in the Rockies. They are found everywhere,
particularly in rocky slides, boulder, and cliff areas from the Park
boundary up to the tops of the highest peaks. Most of the parking area
"feeding grounds" on the Trail Ridge Road contain their share of
marmots, which ordinarily feed on seeds, flowers, and grasses. They are
a socially-minded animal, often living in small communities and posting
a sentinel to give a high, shrill whistle at the first sign of danger.
When sufficiently fattened in the fall, they find a snug hole in the
rocks and drop off in the slow, deep sleep of the "true" hibernators.