The marmot

Marmots measure between 50cm and 60cm and their tail is about 15cm long; they are rather sturdily built and weigh 3-6kg. They have dense fur, which almost completely hides their short head and tiny ears. The forelegs are perfectly adapted to burying holes: they are particularly robust and have very strong toes and nails. The coat is mainly of brown-greyish colour, the muzzle is reddish-whitish, whereas the top of the head, the back part of the shoulders and the end of the tail are darker coloured. The lower parts of the body and the inside of the legs are reddish-yellowish with rust-red tints. Mating usually takes place in the den, between the end of April and the beginning of May. After a gestation period of just over one month, two to four young are born naked and with closed eyes. Only fifteen days later, they are already covered with fur, and after forty days they will leave the den for the first time and are already self-sufficient. Their preferred Alpine habitats are sunny, somewhat steep slopes, covered in grassland with rocks or boulders.
Marmots are very social animals: they spend their days looking for food, sun-bathing and playing with their companions. The individuals do, however, always remain in the vicinity of their respective dens.