Whistle Pig

Whistle Pig

This is a marmot – it’s basically an alpine groundhog. They have have many nicknames – Whistle Pigs, Brake Line Chewers, Those Big Rats. They’re all marmots.

The name marmot comes from the Latin Mures Montani or “mountain mouse.” They are from the Order Rodentia, so they are actually big rats.

As rats go, these are pretty amazing. They live above tree line in the the Rockies and Sierras in the US, and in the European Alps. They spend their brief summers eating and mating – in fact, a male marmot can have 3, 4, or more mating partners. They then hibernate through the long alpine winter.

Marmots are considered to be one of the few altruistic species on this planet – they selflessly keep themselves in danger to warn others of potential danger. The name Whistle Pig comes from their habit of whistling/squeaking/hooting out a warning to warn their neighbors of danger.

Marmots are an at risk species due to climate change.

Yellow-bellied Marmot (Marmota flaviventris)
Mt Evans Wilderness Area, CO
Sony a700
Sigma 3 /2.8+1.4TC

ISO200, 1/1600sec, f/2.8

Whistle Pig belongs to the following groups:

All That is Nature (Photography Only), AMERICA's National Parks and WILDLIFE Habitat, Colorful Colorado, Endangered Species, Exotic Mammals and Nature's Wonders Available for sale as

Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints and Framed Prints