Alpine Marmots are social creatures that live as dense societies near their burrows. One can often see an Alpine Marmot "standing", that is keeping a look-out for possible predators or other dangers emitting a loud shrill or chirp on such an occasion.
MARMOT, the vernacular name of a large, thickly built, burrowing Alpine rodent mammal, allied to the squirrels, and typifying the genus Arctomys, of which there are numerous species ranging from the Alps through Asia north of (but including the inner ranges of) the Himalaya, and recurring in North America.
In addition to their stout build and long thickly haired tails, marmots are characterized by the absence of cheek-pouches, and the rudimentary first front-toe, which is furnished with a flat nail, as well as by certain features of the skull and cheek-teeth.
In the winter when the ground is deep in snow, marmots retire to the depths of their burrows, where as many as ten or fifteen may occupy the same chamber.
Marmots have developed a variety of social systems ranging from the highly social AlpineMarmots, where the offspring from several litters not only remain within the group for a number of years but also actively help in the rearing of other litters, to the solitary Groundhog of North America.
AlpineMarmots are distributed throughout the Alps, Carpathians, Pyrenees and Tatra mountains of Europe where they live in grazed sub-alpine pastures and the higher elevations of alpine regions.
Marmots indulge in a great deal of mutual grooming practices and are generally considered to be soothing to all the individuals involved as well as reinforcing the bonds between them.
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