{"id":39162,"date":"2016-04-29T05:43:59","date_gmt":"2016-04-29T11:43:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/?p=39162"},"modified":"2016-04-29T13:14:43","modified_gmt":"2016-04-29T19:14:43","slug":"yellow-bellied-marmot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2016\/04\/29\/yellow-bellied-marmot\/","title":{"rendered":"Yellow-bellied Marmot"},"content":{"rendered":"

A departure for me this morning, from feathers to fur.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"yellow-bellied<\/p>\n

1\/1600, f\/8, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 100-400mm f\/4.5-5.6L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Typically I can’t get very close to Yellow-bellied Marmots but this one, photographed eleven days ago in a remote area of Box Elder County, was an exception. I think being so close to its den entrance (the cave-like hole at the bottom of the rock in front of the marmot) gave it a sense of security and some bravado.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"yellow-bellied<\/p>\n

1\/2000, f\/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 100-400mm f\/4.5-5.6L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The marmot assumed this vertical posture for some time as it carefully checked me out (as usual I was inside my pickup).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"yellowo-bellied<\/p>\n

1\/2000, f\/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 100-400mm f\/4.5-5.6L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

This is probably the best shot I got to show many of the physical features of this fairly common denizen of the mountainous areas of western North America.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"yellow-bellied<\/p>\n

1\/1600, f\/8, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 100-400mm f\/4.5-5.6L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Once the marmot determined that I was no threat it relaxed and laid down on this large rock. It was really quite a cute pose because most of the time its chin was clear down on the rock but at this angle I couldn’t see the eyes well as it was doing so.<\/p>\n

As a kid growing up in Montana I knew these marmots as rock chucks but they’re also called “whistle pigs” for their propensity to whistle as an alarm call when\u00a0they see a predator.<\/p>\n

Like chipmunks, groundhogs\u00a0and prairie dogs, marmots are types of ground squirrels but they’re much larger than the\u00a0typical ground squirrels that many of us are familiar with. For example, the Richardson’s Ground Squirrel that I grew up with in Montana weighs less than one\u00a0pound but male Yellow-bellied Marmots can tip the scales at over 11 lbs.<\/p>\n

That’s a pretty big rodent!<\/p>\n

Ron<\/p>\n

PS –\u00a0 Scientific American has posted an interesting and amusing clip of two marmots having an apparent disagreement about\u00a0grazing rights to a particular area of grass. The sounds they make as they squabble (about half way through the clip) will probably make you smile. Here’s the link<\/a> if you’re interested.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A departure for me this morning, from feathers to fur.<\/p>\n

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