Alpine Marmot
Lives 400-500m above the forest line in the Central and Western Alpine mountains of Europe. Alpine marmots are adapted to cold climates. They are able to live in places where there is little vegetation. They are able to burrow in gravelly and frozen ground.
Alpine marmot
The fur color of alpine marmots is a mixture of blonde to reddish to dark gray. Their bodies are plump and sturdy and stand at a height of 18cm. Body mass changes drastically from season to season. Before hibernation in the fall, the average weight of males is 4540g and that of females is 4355g. In the springtime, the average weight of males is 3000g and females is 2900g. Specialized for digging, the thumb of an alpine marmot has a nail on it while all other digits have claws.
Reproduction
Marmota marmota mates within the first few days after emergence from hibernation, which occurs in May. Reproducing is not necessarily annual and depends on the weight of the dominant female of a group (as she is the only female to reproduce) after hibernation. Gestation takes approximately 33-34 days. Litters range in number of young from one to seven, each weighing in around 29g at birth. Hair begins to grow after 5 days and eyes open around the 23rd day. After birth, the young are hidden in burrows by their mother and do not exit until they are weaned (around 40 days old). Young become sexually mature around 2 years of age. The life span of an alpine marmot is expected to be between 15 and 18 years.
Behavior
Alpine marmots are well known for their friendly dispositions. Marmota marmota lives in monogamous family groups consisting of a parental breeding pair and many of their offspring (usually 15-20 individuals). Young are very playful and all ages engage in nose to nose greetings. They care for each other by grooming. Alpine marmots also have a social system wherein one individual sits and looks around as if on “guard-duty”. If any enemies are spotted the “guard” will warn the colony with a high-pitched whistle. Although alpine marmots are friendly within their families, they become hostile when a stranger enters their territory. The female is particularly ferocious when it comes to guarding her territory. An alpine marmot marks its territory by smearing a secretion from its cheek glands onto rocks and trees. Anal glands emit a foul-smelling substance used during fights. Home base for alpine marmots is an underground burrow, which is passed down through many generations of a single family. In these burrows are 8-10ft tunnels which lead to a big room called a den, where the whole family hibernates during winter months.
Alpine marmots spend all spring and summer getting as fat as they can in preparation for winter. Around October, these animals enter their burrow and close the entrance with hay and grass. When hibernating their temperature drops from 97 degrees Fahrenheit to 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Breathing slows to 2-3 breathes per minute. Adult temperatures are warmer than their young, so parents and older offspring control the temperature of the young by cuddling close to them. Thermoregulation also benefits adults by helping them to conserve their own energy. About once every 10 days the den occupants will wake up for a short while. This waking brings up their temperature and keeps them from freezing.
Food Habits
Alpine marmots are herbivorous, eating mostly leaves and blossoms. Because they don’t spend much time chewing, M. marmota prefers softer stalks in order to ease digestion. Like many rodents, alpine marmots are able to eat plants that would poison other mammals. In captivity they should be offered a complete diet of rodent lab blocks, and rat or mouse mix, with bits of fruit or veggies regularly. Cheerios or wheat bread are great treats, in small quantities. Do NOT feed chocolate, fried foods, salted foods, candy or junk food! They may enjoy crickets and mealworms if they are captive bred, never feed wild insects as they may carry parasites. Vitamins, like Nutri-Cal are a good addition to their diet, and added calcium during nursing and growth due to demands on their systems at those times, but take care not to overdo it. Water bottles should be used to proved constant, clean water. Ceramic or stoneware food dishes work well for keeping seeds or fresh foods off the floor, and a wire mesh hopper that allows them to eat the lab blocks through without extra waste.
