There is a National Park called Yoho in the Rocky Mountains of Canada. This wildlife tale went down on a Yoho walking trail early on a misty morning. We were heading out to visit some waterfalls. We planned to spend the whole day outdoors with lunch in our backpacks.
After visiting a tall waterfall tumbling down the mountain, we got ready to walk a trail through a forest. It was a quiet morning until we saw an animal about the size of a small, chubby dog hanging out on the trail ahead. The hoary (hoa-ree) marmot quickly moved into an area of rocks just off the trail path. We could no longer see the marmot. Surprise! The marmot climbed up on a rock and began looking us over from head to toe. We stared back!
Hikers sometimes hear a sharp, high whistle from the hoary marmot. This is a warning to the other family members that danger is near. The whistle is one of seven sounds the hoary marmot uses to talk with its family. They can also bark like a dog, sound like they are grinding their teeth, and scream. Hoary marmots are sometimes called whistle pigs.
The fur of the hoary marmot was a silver-gray color. The word “hoary” means silver or gray. The mix of colors helps the whistling pig to hide from its predators.
Is that marmot grinning? There is a white patch between the two black eyes and white fur around the black nose. Can you find the tiny black eyes and the two small round ears? Marmots do not see very well, but they have great hearing.
Does the marmot have boots on his feet? No, it has got coal-black feet. That is where they get their name booted marmots. And is that some fancy nail polish? No, the booted marmot has toes that look painted because of a snow-white stripe on each black toe.
Then, another marmot joined the first one on the peak of a large rock. Mountain marmots live together in large families with fifteen to twenty members. They eat grasses, leaves, ferns, spiders, and worms. Yum, yum!
The marmot’s tail looked like a long brush dipped in red-brown paint! Look! This clever marmot is heading down to his burrow or den for a nap! These marmots like to live in cozy underground burrows, tucked under some big rocks. Marmots watch out for predators like eagles, red foxes, wolves, and bears. Those rocks are like a superhero shield, helping keep pesky predators from digging into their comfy burrows.
Hoary marmots romp about only during the daytime, mostly early in the morning and later in the afternoon. Here, they can be seen touching noses. Young hoary marmots are often seen wrestling and playing. They also love to flop down on top of a rock in the sun. A group of marmots is called a madness.
Over the fall and summer months, hoary marmots will eat extra food to build up fat in their bodies for winter. They will stay in their burrows from September to April during the coldest days of the mountain winter. While taking a winter nap, their heartbeat will slow to 30 beats per minute. That’s like a super slow drumbeat. Their heartbeat will be 180-200 beats per minute when chasing about.
Early morning, late afternoon, and early evening are great times to see wildlife on a walking trail. After saying goodbye to the whistling pig pals, we walked down the trail to see another beautiful waterfall in Yoho National Park. We, too, just like the marmots, kept an eye out for bears. The light rain stopped, and we enjoyed a picnic at the base of a roaring waterfall. We were happy to have had a little “madness” in our day!
Literacy Training
Vocabulary:
- burrow – a hole in the ground made by an animal (as a rabbit or fox) for shelter or protection “Burrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/burrow. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.
- mountain – an elevation higher than a hill “Mountain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mountain. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.
- National – belonging and maintained by the federal government “National.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/national. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.
- predator – an animal that obtains food mostly by killing and eating other animals “Predator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/predator. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.
- surprise – a feeling caused by something unexpected “Surprise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surprise. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024
- whistle – a clear shrill sound “Whistle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whistle. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.
- wrestle – to struggle for control “Wrestle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wrestle. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.
Comprehension:
- Why is the hoary marmot called a whistle pig?
- Where does the hoary marmot live?
- What does the marmot do to survive the winter?
- Why do you think a group of marmots is called a madness?
- Why does the hoary marmot look like he wears boots?
- If you were listening to a hoary marmot, what sound would you like to hear?
- Why do you think mountain marmots might live in a group?
- Why might marmots use different sounds to talk to their family?
- Would a marmot see or hear you coming down the trail?
- Why might the hoary marmot have many different fur colors?
What is the dash between words? Why are words hyphenated?
A noun is a word that names a person, place, or thing. Adjectives are words that describe a noun, like a chubby dog. Sometimes, two adjectives traveling together to describe a noun have a dash or hyphen between them. Can you find two adjectives being buddies and separated by a hyphen in the story? There are four hyphenated word buddies in this story.
Compound Words
Compound words are made up of two smaller words. The new, bigger word will have a different meaning. What are the two smaller words in this big word – waterfall? What do you think about superhero?
References and Resources:
To listen to the hoary marmot whistle, click here: https://www.nps.gov/articles/hoary-marmot.htm
https://nhpbs.org/natureworks/hoarymarmot.htm
https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=hoarymarmot.main
All photographs are mine. All rights reserved.