Hoary Marmot

The hoary marmot (Marmota caligata) is a large ground squirrel; often called a “whistle pig” for its loud alarm calls; that inhabits alpine and subalpine meadows and talus in the Canadian Rockies. In Banff National Park, hoary marmots are common in open terrain above treeline, where they bask on rocks and graze on vegetation.

Identification: Large (up to 20 lb / 9 kg), with grizzled gray-brown fur, a pale “hood” on the head and shoulders, and a bushy tail. Marmots are diurnal and social, living in colonies. Their piercing whistle; used to warn of predators; carries across alpine basins and is a familiar sound to hikers and skiers.

Habitat and diet: Hoary marmots live in alpine meadows, talus slopes, and boulder fields. They dig burrows for shelter and hibernation (they spend roughly half the year underground) and feed on grasses, forbs, and sedges. Colonies often occupy the same areas for generations.

Viewing: Marmots are often seen sunning on rocks or grazing near burrow entrances. Maintain distance and do not feed them; human food harms their health and habituates them to people. The Big Beehive and Lake Agnes slopes are common marmot habitat.

The resort’s Marmot run in the Larch area is named after this animal.