Yellow-bellied Marmot

Marmota flaviventris

Yellow-bellied marmots are large ground squirrels, about the size of a house cat. They are native to southwestern Canada and the western United States. They have mainly brown fur, a dark bushy tail, a yellow belly and a patch of white between their eyes.

Yellow-bellied marmots live in burrows in colonies of up to twenty individuals with one dominant male. They are active during the day and feed on plant material, insects, and bird eggs. They hibernate for approximately eight months starting in September, lasting through the winter. Marmots dig burrows under rocks, so they are less visible to predators like foxes, coyotes, and eagles. When danger is near, yellow-bellied marmots whistle to warn other marmots in the area.

Look for these critters near the river beside the Lethbridge Country Club!