Marmots In California

The yellow-bellied marmot is native to western North America, making its burrows in meadows or valleys at elevations often above 6,000 feet. Its range includes the northeast corner of California as well as some of southern California, particularly the Sierra Nevada mountains. Outside of California, the species inhabits much of the Cascade and Rocky mountains in the United States and parts of Canada.

With a stocky build and body length between 19 and 26 inches, the yellow-bellied species is at the same time a large marmot and a small or medium-size rodent. The male averages about 8.5 pounds; the female around 6 pounds. The yellow-bellied marmot has a broad head covered in dark fur and a characteristic yellow band across its nose. As the animal’s name suggests, he has lighter, yellowish fur on his underside, contrasting with the darker fur of the rest of its body. The creature's dense fur extends to the tail, which measures 5 to 8 inches.

Like all marmots, those of the yellow-bellied species are herbivores, meaning their diets consist solely of plant matter. The meadows and slopes they inhabit provide a rich range of grasses and other vegetation on which to forage. Yellow-bellied marmots hibernate in burrows for much of the year -- from fall to spring -- but do not store food for their hibernation period. Marmots in California’s parks, like Sequoia National Park, also attempt to feed on the toxic antifreeze of car engines. Biologist Harold Werner believes this is an attempt to supplement their diets with minerals.

Most yellow-bellied marmots live in colonies of multiple individuals and burrows. They are social animals that play, groom and communicate with each other. Some interactions can be territorial or hostile, particularly between males. Both males and females communicate through sight, sound and scent. Their vocalizations include whistles, screams and tooth chatters, all of which communicate alarm or threat in specific ways.