Olympic Marmot
Encyclopedia
The Olympic marmot, Marmota olympus, is a marmot
(a rodent
in the squirrel
family, Sciuridae). They are found in alpine and subalpine meadows and talus slopes
on the Olympic Peninsula
in the U.S. state of Washington, and are close relatives of the hoary marmot
.
Like most marmots, they are gregarious burrowing
animals. A typical family consists of a male, two to three females and their young. New born marmots stay with their family for at least two years so a burrow
will usually be home to a newly born litter and a year old litter. Female marmots have a litter of about four marmots on alternate years. The young do not reach sexual maturity until their third year, perhaps because of the short growing season.
Olympic marmots hibernate
from September through May. This is the most dangerous time for the Olympic marmot and in years of light snowfall as much as 50% of the young born in that year will perish. After they come out of hibernation, their diet consists largely of roots until new vegetation appears in the spring, after which they feed on grasses, herbs, moss
es and flowers as well as the occasional insect. Dry grasses are also brought into the burrows for bedding or food. Colonies are frequently found on southern-facing slopes as the earlier snowmelt leads to more food for the colony.
During the active months of June, July and August, the marmots forage in the morning and afternoon with a break around midday. Before each feeding period they visit the other burrows in the colony. The marmots greet each other by touching noses. During more extended greetings, they may touch nose to cheek and nibble on each others' ears and neck. They may also engage in play fighting in which two marmots on their hind legs push each other with their paws. The play fighting is more aggressive between older marmots.
Olympic marmots, like all other marmots, have a variety of distinctive calls or whistles which alert other marmots to predators. There are four basic calls: ascending, descending, flat and trills. The first three calls are distinguished by relative frequency of their starting and ending pitch. The trills are a series of ascending calls in rapid succession and are the most rare, being reserved for situations of great danger. The flat calls are the most common. The calls can be heard here. Common predators of the Olympic marmot are the coyote
and puma although the marmots have been observed making alarm calls for a number of large birds of prey as well as bear
s and bobcat
s.
Olympic marmots are relatively easy to see on the very accessible Hurricane Ridge
in Olympic National Park
where they are quite numerous. Olympic marmots are in decline in some areas in the park. This is believed to be due to the encroachment of trees into the meadows as well as predation by coyotes. Olympic marmots are a protected species in Washington. In 2009, legislation was signed that declared the Olympic marmot to be Washington State's official endemic mammal.
Marmot
The marmots are a genus, Marmota, of squirrels. There are 14 species in this genus.Marmots are generally large ground squirrels. Those most often referred to as marmots tend to live in mountainous areas such as the Alps, northern Apennines, Eurasian steppes, Carpathians, Tatras, and Pyrenees in...
(a rodent
Rodent
Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....
in the squirrel
Squirrel
Squirrels belong to a large family of small or medium-sized rodents called the Sciuridae. The family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots , flying squirrels, and prairie dogs. Squirrels are indigenous to the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa and have been introduced to Australia...
family, Sciuridae). They are found in alpine and subalpine meadows and talus slopes
Scree
Scree, also called talus, is a term given to an accumulation of broken rock fragments at the base of crags, mountain cliffs, or valley shoulders. Landforms associated with these materials are sometimes called scree slopes or talus piles...
on the Olympic Peninsula
Olympic Peninsula
The Olympic Peninsula is the large arm of land in western Washington state of the USA, that lies across Puget Sound from Seattle. It is bounded on the west by the Pacific Ocean, the north by the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the east by Puget Sound. Cape Alava, the westernmost point in the contiguous...
in the U.S. state of Washington, and are close relatives of the hoary marmot
Hoary Marmot
The hoary marmot is a species of marmot that inhabits the mountains of northwest North America. Hoary marmots live near the tree line on slopes with grasses and forbs to eat and rocky areas for cover....
.
Like most marmots, they are gregarious burrowing
Fossorial
A fossorial organism is one that is adapted to digging and life underground such as the badger, the naked mole rat, and the mole salamanders Ambystomatidae...
animals. A typical family consists of a male, two to three females and their young. New born marmots stay with their family for at least two years so a burrow
Burrow
A burrow is a hole or tunnel dug into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct of locomotion. Burrows provide a form of shelter against predation and exposure to the elements, so the burrowing way of life is quite popular among the...
will usually be home to a newly born litter and a year old litter. Female marmots have a litter of about four marmots on alternate years. The young do not reach sexual maturity until their third year, perhaps because of the short growing season.
Olympic marmots hibernate
Hibernation
Hibernation is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in animals, characterized by lower body temperature, slower breathing, and lower metabolic rate. Hibernating animals conserve food, especially during winter when food supplies are limited, tapping energy reserves, body fat, at a slow rate...
from September through May. This is the most dangerous time for the Olympic marmot and in years of light snowfall as much as 50% of the young born in that year will perish. After they come out of hibernation, their diet consists largely of roots until new vegetation appears in the spring, after which they feed on grasses, herbs, moss
Moss
Mosses are small, soft plants that are typically 1–10 cm tall, though some species are much larger. They commonly grow close together in clumps or mats in damp or shady locations. They do not have flowers or seeds, and their simple leaves cover the thin wiry stems...
es and flowers as well as the occasional insect. Dry grasses are also brought into the burrows for bedding or food. Colonies are frequently found on southern-facing slopes as the earlier snowmelt leads to more food for the colony.
During the active months of June, July and August, the marmots forage in the morning and afternoon with a break around midday. Before each feeding period they visit the other burrows in the colony. The marmots greet each other by touching noses. During more extended greetings, they may touch nose to cheek and nibble on each others' ears and neck. They may also engage in play fighting in which two marmots on their hind legs push each other with their paws. The play fighting is more aggressive between older marmots.
Olympic marmots, like all other marmots, have a variety of distinctive calls or whistles which alert other marmots to predators. There are four basic calls: ascending, descending, flat and trills. The first three calls are distinguished by relative frequency of their starting and ending pitch. The trills are a series of ascending calls in rapid succession and are the most rare, being reserved for situations of great danger. The flat calls are the most common. The calls can be heard here. Common predators of the Olympic marmot are the coyote
Coyote
The coyote , also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States and Canada...
and puma although the marmots have been observed making alarm calls for a number of large birds of prey as well as bear
Bear
Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Bears are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, with the pinnipeds being their closest living relatives. Although there are only eight living species of bear, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Northern...
s and bobcat
Bobcat
The bobcat is a North American mammal of the cat family Felidae, appearing during the Irvingtonian stage of around 1.8 million years ago . With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States...
s.
Olympic marmots are relatively easy to see on the very accessible Hurricane Ridge
Hurricane Ridge
Hurricane Ridge is a mountainous area in Washington's Olympic National Park. It can be accessed by road from Port Angeles and is open to hiking, skiing, and snowboarding....
in Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park is located in the U.S. state of Washington, in the Olympic Peninsula. The park can be divided into four basic regions: the Pacific coastline, alpine areas, the west side temperate rainforest and the forests of the drier east side. U.S...
where they are quite numerous. Olympic marmots are in decline in some areas in the park. This is believed to be due to the encroachment of trees into the meadows as well as predation by coyotes. Olympic marmots are a protected species in Washington. In 2009, legislation was signed that declared the Olympic marmot to be Washington State's official endemic mammal.