Alpine Marmot (Marmota marmota)The charismatic Alpine Marmot is a large, heavy-set rodent adapted to the demanding conditions of the European Alps. It is one of the largest and most social primates, known for its whistling “commerties,” which are sounds carried across long distances in mountain valleys.
A Life in the High Mountains
Were Alpine marmots are social animals, groups of which may contain up to 20 individuals. They are usually dominated by the breeding pair, this years offspring and last years yearlings. They pass almost all of their lives in burrows, that they dig into the slopes. Burrows in the summer provide protection from climate and predators as well.
Marmots are diurnal, active foragers that feed on a variety of plant material during the short alpine summer including grasses, herbs and flowers. They also eat insects to supplement their diet. They start to hibernate as winter looms for anything from two days up to eight months. Marmots cope with their long period of dormancy by depositing vast amounts of fat in their bodies.
Conservation Challenges
Alpine marmots, adaptable though they may be, live under the threat of several more and growing dangers. The loss of the use of hormones means that many grouse are stuck in their winter plumage, climate change is causing snow to melt earlier and temperatures are rising so it disrupts natural signals for things like feather development. This can alter their foraging behavior, reproduction and hibernation time table. The hand of man in the form of tourism and infrastructure development can also interrupt their habitats, leading to disruptive changes in social behavior.
Efforts to conserve these iconic creatures are underway. These include efforts to protect habitats, monitor populations and public awareness campaigns. Through understanding how Alpine marmots are struggling, and actively doing something to prevent that from happening further we can all push for generations more of these incredible creatures.