Hoary Marmot
Marmota caligata
Silhouette: T. Michael Keesey · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderRodentia (Rodents)
- FamilySciuridae (Squirrels)
- GenusMarmota (Marmots)
- SpeciesMarmota caligata (Hoary Marmot)
About the Hoary Marmot
The hoary marmot (Marmota caligata) 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. It is the largest North American ground squirrel and is often nicknamed "the whistler" for its high-pitched warning issued to alert other members of the colony to possible danger. The animals are sometimes called "whistle pigs". Whistler, British Columbia, originally London Mountain because of its heavy fogs and rain, was renamed after these animals to help make it more marketable as a resort. The closest relatives of the species are the yellow-bellied, Olympic, and Vancouver Island marmots, although the exact relationships are unclear.
The hoary marmot is a large, bulky, ground squirrel, with short, heavy limbs, and a broad head. Adults range from 62 to 82 cm (24 to 32 in) in total length, including a 17 to 25 cm (6.7 to 9.8 in) tail. The species is sexually dimorphic, with males being significantly larger than females in most subspecies. Because of their long winter hibernation, during which they survive on fat reserves, the weight of the animals... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Hoary Marmot in Banff National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Banff National Park
Woodchuck
Marmota monax
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
Callospermophilus lateralis
Columbian Ground Squirrel
Urocitellus columbianus
American Red Squirrel
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
Least Chipmunk
Tamias minimus
Yellow-pine Chipmunk
Tamias amoenus
Northern Flying Squirrel
Glaucomys sabrinus
Richardson's Ground Squirrel
Urocitellus richardsonii
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
Quiller
Erethizon dorsatus
American Beaver
Castor canadensis
Muskrat
Ondatra zibethicus
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kenai Fjords National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Denali National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Wrangell-St. Elias National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Hoary Marmot in Banff National Park?
About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Hoary Marmot sighting in Banff National Park, based on 455 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Hoary Marmot in Banff National Park?
July has the highest sighting rate for Hoary Marmot in Banff National Park in our monthly data.