Head to head
Hoary Marmot vs Alpine Marmot
Hoary Marmot
VS Alpine Marmot
The hoary marmot and alpine marmot are the mountain marmots of two continents, each living above the treeline, whistling alarms, and hibernating through the winter.
| Hoary Marmot | Alpine Marmot | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Marmota caligata | Marmota marmota |
| Continent and range | North America, from Alaska and the Yukon south to the northern Rocky Mountains and Cascade Range | Europe, in the Alps and other ranges including the Carpathians and the Pyrenees |
| Habitat | Alpine meadows and rocky slopes | Above the treeline in meadows and rocky slopes |
| Family life | Lives in colonies of related animals | Lives in family groups of a dominant pair, their young, and sometimes older offspring |
| Alarm call | Loud, shrill whistle, which earned it the nickname whistler | A sentinel on watch gives a piercing whistle to warn the group of eagles and other predators |
| Hibernation | Spends much of the year hibernating in a burrow | Hibernates in a family burrow, with the group huddling to share warmth |
| Local legacy | Gave the Whistler area of British Columbia its name | Introduced or reintroduced to other European ranges, such as the Pyrenees |
| Conservation status | Least Concern, though warming could shrink the high meadows it depends on | Least Concern |
Hoary Marmot vs Alpine Marmot: common questions
Which marmot lives in Europe?
The alpine marmot, which lives in the Alps and other European ranges, while the hoary marmot lives in northwestern North America.
How do alpine marmots hibernate?
They hibernate in a family burrow, with the group huddling together to share warmth.
Do both marmots whistle?
Yes, the hoary marmot gives a loud, shrill whistle as an alarm call, and the alpine marmot posts a sentinel that gives a piercing whistle to warn the group.