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 Glacier National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Glacier National Park
Yellow-bellied Marmot
Marmota flaviventris
Columbian Ground Squirrel
Urocitellus columbianus
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
Callospermophilus lateralis
American Red Squirrel
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
Yellow-pine Chipmunk
Tamias amoenus
Fox Squirrel
Sciurus niger
Red-tailed Chipmunk
Neotamias ruficaudus
Least Chipmunk
Tamias minimus
Richardson's Ground Squirrel
Urocitellus richardsonii
Northern Flying Squirrel
Glaucomys sabrinus
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel
Ictidomys tridecemlineatus
American Beaver
Castor canadensis
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 Glacier National Park?
About 60% of wildlife watchers report a Hoary Marmot sighting in Glacier National Park, based on 490 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Hoary Marmot in Glacier National Park?
July has the highest sighting rate for Hoary Marmot in Glacier National Park in our monthly data.