Mammals · Rodentia · Sciuridae

Olympic Marmot

Marmota olympus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The Olympic marmot is endemic to the high meadows of the Olympic Peninsula, in the north-western United States, and practically its whole population lives inside a single national park. It is one of the most social marmots: the colonies are family groups whose members greet one another by touching noses and play often. It hibernates for more than seven months a year in sealed burrows. Its populations have declined in recent decades, partly through predation by coyotes that have colonised the peninsula.

Weight

3 kg – 11 kg

Size

54 cm – 75 cm

Lifespan

15 years

Diet

Herbivore

Feeds mainly on plants.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Colony

Lives in large concentrations, often for breeding reasons.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

MountainGrasslandHerbivore Diurnal Colonial Mountain Grassland Mammal

2countries 1parks22same family

Fun facts

It is one of the few mammals endemic to a single US state, and practically its whole population lives inside Olympic National Park.
It hibernates for more than seven months a year: it emerges in May and returns to the burrow in September, so it spends two thirds of its life asleep underground.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Subalpine and alpine meadows of the Olympic Peninsula, in Washington State
Sexual maturity: 3 years
Gestation / incubation: 30 days
Litter / clutch size: 4

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marmota_olympus