A change of pace today. No feathers.
Six days ago I spent some time at a Yellow-bellied Marmot burrow I’m quite familiar with because I’ve photographed marmot families there in previous years. Last year at about this time there were five pups at the burrow but this year I’ve seen only one during several visits. The single pup seems significantly more advanced in age and size than the pups last year and I’m not sure why. It could be related to the effects of climate change or the fact that there are apparently far fewer pups or both. Or something else.
But based on its size and the time of year perhaps it’s more likely that this is a yearling female rather than a pup of the year. Male offspring disperse when they are yearlings but young females tend to stay near the burrow complex where they were raised so it’s very possible that this is one of the pups I photographed last April. They don’t breed until they’re two years old.
During several visits I took many photos of both adults and the pup/yearling but today I’ll present only two of them, both of the youngster rather than the adults.
Here (s)he had just emerged from one of the burrow entrances (the rock crevice directly behind her) but she was apparently still both sleepy and cold so she stretched out and plastered herself against the sun-warmed rocks and yawned enthusiastically. I like the way she raised her left foot as part of the satisfying yawn and stretch. I know that feeling.
But soon an annoying itch interrupted her warming reverie on the rock so she stood up and scratched the hell out of it.
I like this shot for a variety of reasons. She gave me the perfect angle to display the behavior well, I have excellent eye contact and the rocky habitat is ideal for the species. But it’s the position of her left leg and foot while scratching that puts the image over the top for me. She had to get it out of the way to scratch the appropriate spot and I’ve contorted my body into similar positions while scratching, especially during the bouts of itchy dermatitis I’ve had to endure recently. Unlike my own itching this image delights me.
Yellow-bellied Marmots typically hibernate for eight months of the year so beginning about midsummer I won’t have access to them for many months. I think I’ll be visiting this burrow again soon, despite their lack of feathers…
Ron
Sunning, yawning, scratching, hibernating for 8 months. What a hectic schedule.
Yup, they’ve got it rough!
What a sweetie. Great shots Ron!
Thank you, Jean.
Wonderful photos of adorable animals.
Thanks, April.
Wow! So beautiful! And such a great photo – itchiness aside. 😉
I’m glad you like it, Shelley. Thank you.
Great shot, love the foot, love how easy it is to feel it with her. . winner. Oooh, over here, higher. . .ahh. Damn’ fleas.
Martha, whatever the source, fleas or dermatitis, itching is miserable. Thanks.
Very cute. Like the one with the foot up.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
Thank you, Everett.
Yup, Cute! Great shots. You do know Ron, your mammal images are, in my opinion, as great as you avian images! However, I’m still looking for some newer images of Weasels!
We have had a weasel that I caught a glimpse of and since only scat and feathers inside our shed! You have a lot better experience with ermine than I. I don’t think I’ll live long enough to get a picture of one!
Just so you know we are still digging out from heavy wet snow we had several days ago. At least at this time of year the sun is warm and trying hard to melt it away.
Many thanks for sharing these pictures.
I’m looking for “newer” weasels too, Dick. I always am when I’m out shooting but they’re very elusive.
What fun! 🙂 Delightful shots of a leisurely morning stretch and scratch. 🙂 It certainly did cooperate for the it’s “photo session”. One will get into strange contortions to scratch an itch! The stretch and laying on a nice warm rock in the sun is VERY appealing….. 😉 Ice on the creek went out Sat. night sometime – always dramatic tho we didn’t wake up for it and messy when the remains melt BUT spring is certainly trying to creep in! 😉
Thanks, Judy. A few minutes ago I watched a current video of ice breakup on the Yellowstone River in Glendive. Very impressive!
I too see myself in this marmot, scratching the hard to reach spots, with fevered innovation. Having lost some flexibility, an oversized kitchen spoon became my greatest evolutionary development and most satisfying deliverer of relief in my quest to douse the itching fires of dermatitis.
Marmot fan for life.
Your comment made me smile and wince at the same time, Dave. As you know it’s no fun…
That is marmot yoga, Ron. I’m surprised an experienced professor missed that. The first is Downward Marmot which is a much flatter version of Downward Dog. Then she is doing a beautiful Seated Marmasana. 😀 Look at that beautiful extension. Obviously a marmotini of some expertise. 😀
I’m happy to be enlightened, Arwen…
BAHAHAHAHA Nice pun.
They are cuties! Surprising how long a period of hibernation they ‘enjoy’. Something similar to the time the 13lined Ground Squirrel spends in hibernation although I think the marmots may be longer. Makes you wonder what effect climate change will have on that.
Richardson’s Ground squirrels spend about that much time hibernating too, Kathy. Although they do come out of their burrows periodically during warm spells.