The American marmot, scientifically known as Marmota monax, primarily feeds on grass, fruits, vegetables, and grains. They forage almost exclusively during the day throughout the year. As spring arrives, marmots sometimes emerge from their burrows at night to “play.” In the wild, the greatest threat to American marmots is the fox. However, these adorable creatures are also quite intelligent and cunning. They evade predators by digging and living in burrows with multiple escape routes. These burrows are typically “designed” in areas rich in rocks or tree roots.
Being native to colder climates, this species of marmot has adapted well to the freezing seasons. They hibernate from October until February of the following year.
Under normal circumstances, marmots are solitary animals. Their mating season occurs from March to April. After a gestation period of about 30 days, females give birth to between 2 to 9 pups. Newborn marmots are blind and hairless. For these little ones, this is the most uncomfortable time, as the mother marmot nurtures her young for a full 6 weeks.
An adult marmot has a robust and agile appearance, despite its short legs. Its fur is a rich golden-brown and glossy. The feet are black, with short thumbs. The body can reach up to 0.5 meters in length and weigh around 4.5 kg.
They are distributed across Canada and the eastern United States.