The protagonist of many encounters in the mountains, the marmot is one of the most beautiful and fun animals there is and you cannot help but love it. An animal full of curiosities that we reveal below. So let’s find out how much it sleeps, where it lives and other details about the groundhog.
Groundhog curiosities
During hikes on the mountain trails, generally at around 2000 meters above sea level, it is not so rare to meet a marmot or even in pairs or small groups. Sometimes they can be seen in the distance, a funny furball that runs fast and agile between rocks or in clearings and then quickly disappears into its lair.
In the most fortunate cases it is possible to get a little closer and take wonderful pictures, especially on stretches of the road where marmots are more used to the presence of man. But in the same way that it happens with other wild animals, marmots should not be disturbed or scared in any way, and above all we should not try to approach them with food.
Even if you’ve never been lucky enough to see them, entering the world of a groundhog is truly fascinating. An animal full of curiosities.
Where the groundhog lives
The vast majority of marmots live in mountainous areas of Eurasia and North America mainly in the central and western Alps, although they can also be found in the Pyrenees .
The largest number of marmots however is found throughout the Alps , living in the mountains above 1500-1900 meters above sea level. Typically, they drill holes in the ground that are often found at the edge of the forest and in high-altitude clearings, which are the entrance doors to their dens.
It is no coincidence that we speak in the plural, in fact there are many tunnels that the groundhog digs in the ground , a dense network of underground tunnels that lead to its lair. This way you can come and go as you please and escape immediately for cover in case of danger, wherever you are.
How the groundhog lives
Groundhogs live in families : the male, the female, and their cubs. In this way, if you see one, you should be attentive because it is very likely that you can see others nearby. They are very playful and love to hang out on the rocks spread out in the sun.
In summer they roam the den in search of food, being vegetarians , they feed mainly on herbs, shoots, roots, flowers.
Groundhogs breed in early summer and litters typically have between 2 and 5 cubs. If you happen to see two marmots fighting, you should know that they are fighting because one is defending its territory from its neighbor.
How much the groundhog sleeps
If they live at such high altitudes, how do they survive the winter? Well, very easy because they spend it sleeping, that is, they hibernate . In summer they are supplied with food that they accumulate in the form of fat in the body, so that they can go for months without eating.
Then they prepare the winter lair, which unlike the summer lair, has a single access tunnel that leads to the royal lair, where the whole family takes refuge. Up to 10, even 15 marmots can stay in the same den , the larger the group, the greater the chances of surviving the cold.
They usually hibernate from October to April and manage to survive the harsh winter thanks to the fat deposits accumulated in the summer, lowering the body temperature and significantly reducing the heartbeat until reaching only 5 per minute.
The whistle of the groundhog
Groundhogs are organized animals, especially when it comes to defending themselves against potential dangers and predators, such as eagles or foxes. While they are busy foraging for food, they should always keep an eye on the territory around the burrow to make sure everything is quiet.
Have you ever seen a groundhog standing on its hind legs ? That is the position of the sentry , who watches over his lair and the rest of his family from predators.
If the groundhog senses danger, it immediately takes a lookout position and lets out a long, shrill whistle to warn its companions , and they all take refuge in the den. When, walking down a mountain path, you hear that characteristic hiss, you will know that there are marmots out there and possibly they make that sound because they have seen you!
