Discover the marmot

The name marmot comes from the Latin "mus montis," which signifies mountain mouse; in reality, the animal is a large rodent, attaining up to 60 centimeters.

The marmot is always on the look-out and whistles whenever a menace approaches, scurrying to hide in its underground burrow. The golden eagle, its main predator, is never very far away! The marmot has a 300-degree field of vision, which enables it to spot danger very rapidly.

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

 How do you see one?

Unfortunately, marmots are nowhere to be seen in winter; they hibernate in their burrows, since in winter they are unable to survive without abundant food and because of the very cold temperatures.

However, a curious tradition from North America holds that a marmot's burrow should be observed on February 2; if the marmot puts in an appearance on that day and sees its shadow in the sunlight, winter is not yet finished!

This legend is very rarely verified, since in the midst of winter, the marmot never wakes so early.