Alpine Marmot  (Marmota marmota)     Facts about this animal
With a head-body length of 63 to 73 cm the Alpine marmot is one
of the two largest species of the squirrel family, the other
being the bobac marmot from Central Asia. Its tail is 13 to 16
cm long. In autumn marmots may weigh 5.5 to 7.5 kgs, in spring
about 2.8 to 3.3 kgs.   Alpine marmots occupy alpine meadows.and
scree slopes. They spend most of their lives underground in
burrows they excavate in well-drained soil. They are deep
hibernators and may sleep up to 9 months of the year, living of
their fat reserves during that period. They may emerge briefly
during spells of mild winter weather.   Alpine Marmots are
social animals that live as dense societies near their burrows.
One can often see an Alpine Marmot "standing", that is keeping a
look-out for possible predators or other dangers emitting a loud
shrill or chirp on such an occasion.  Did you know? That a North
American cousin of the Alpine marmot, the woodchuck or ground
hog, is used for trad