Mammals
Alpine Marmot
Marmota marmota · also called marmot of the Alps
On a high Alpine meadow, one marmot stands upright on watch while the rest of its family grazes, ready to send a piercing whistle across the slope the moment an eagle appears.
Overview
The alpine marmot, Marmota marmota, is a Least Concern rodent native to the high meadows of the Alps and other European mountain ranges. Its sentinel whistles, family hibernation, and deep burrows make it one of the best-known and most social mountain mammals in Europe.
A family that sleeps together
Alpine marmots survive the winter by hibernating as a group, huddling in a shared burrow so that the warmth of the family helps every member make it through to spring.
Status
Least Concern, widespread and common across suitable alpine habitat.
Alpine Marmot: common questions
How do alpine marmots survive the winter?
They hibernate in a family burrow, huddling together to share warmth through the cold months.
Why do alpine marmots whistle?
A sentinel on watch gives a piercing whistle to warn the group of predators such as eagles.
Do alpine marmots live alone?
No, they live in family groups made up of a dominant pair, their young, and sometimes older offspring.
Where are alpine marmots found?
They live in alpine meadows and rocky slopes of the Alps, and have been introduced or reintroduced in other European mountains.