Discover the marmot

Its name comes fromm the Latin "mus montis," which means "mountain mouse." In reality, the marmot is a large rodent that can attain 60 centimeters.

The marmot is always on the look-out and whistles whenever a menace appears, disappearing down it burrow for protection. The golden eagle, its main predator, is never far away! The marmot has an angle of vision of 300 degrees that allows it to sight danger very rapidly.

The marmot is an animal that hibernates from October to April. To survive this long six-month period of inactivity, it must feed and accumulate enough fat during the summer season.

 How do you see one?

Marmots are found between 1800 and 2700 meters, frequently close to hiking trails. To find one, listen for the whistling that can often be heard echoing in high-altitude valleys - it's a good indicator of the presence of marmots.