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Marmot Facts & Worksheets

Marmots, or Marmota, are a species of giant ground squirrel, and they are described as medium-sized rodents with brown fur on their heads and backs and yellow hair on their bellies.

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Marmots, or Marmota, are a species of giant ground squirrel, and they are described as medium-sized rodents with brown fur on their heads and backs and yellow hair on their bellies. This creature is a herbivore, meaning it exists on plant matter such as nuts, leaves, seeds, flowers, grass, and grains. They have settled in the continents of Europe, Asia, and North America. A group of marmots is known as a colony of marmots.

See the fact file below for more information on Marmots, or you can download our 29-page Marmot worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

DESCRIPTION

  • Marmots are giant rodents with sturdy bodies, broad heads, and sharp incisors that quickly consume and digest a wide range of plant matter. The fur color of marmots varies roughly according to their environment, though most species are shades of brown. 
  • Marmots that live in more open areas tend to be lighter in color than those that frequent forested areas. The marmot is the largest of the squirrel species. 
  • Body length ranges from around 42–72 centimeters, with the lesser species weighing an average of about 2 kilograms in the spring and the more prominent species weighing an average of 8 kilograms in the fall, sometimes exceeding 11 kilograms. 
  • Uncertainty exists over the largest and smallest species. The Alaska marmot appears to be the smallest species in North America, whereas the Olympic marmot is the largest, based on mean linear measurements and body mass throughout the year. The Himalayan and the Tarbagan marmots in Asia appear to attain nearly the same body masses as the Olympic marmot. However, neither species is known to grow as long as the Olympic marmot. 

HISTORY

  • The existence of marmots has been documented since ancient times. According to studies conducted by the French ethnologist Michel Peissel, the golden Himalayan marmot of the Deosai Plateau and the practice of indigenous tribes like the Brokpa to gather the gold dust mined from their burrows inspired the myth of the “Gold-digging ant” relayed by Herodotus, a Greek historian who lived around 500 BCE. Several researchers have concluded that an animal geographers Strabo and Agatharchides described was the marmot.
  • Jacopo Ligozzi, a prominent artist of botanical and animal illustrations, created and circulated an anatomically correct depiction of a marmot as early as 1605.
  • The word “marmot” came from the prefix marm-, which means to mutter or murmur in Gallo-Romance, and may be the linguistic ancestor of this word (an example of onomatopoeia). An alternate possibility is that it originates from the post-Classical Latin words mus montanus, meaning “mountain mouse.”
  • Alaska has replaced Groundhog Day with “Marmot Day” on February 2 since 2010. The holiday was created to honor the state’s abundant marmot population.

APPEARANCE

  • The back and head of a yellow-bellied marmot are coated in short brown fur, while the animal’s belly is covered in a vivid yellow coat. They have black noses, sharp, rounded ears, and strong claws for digging burrows. 
  • Because of the low temperatures and high elevations where they make their home, their vast size is a survival mechanism. 
  • The length of these rodents can vary between 18.5 and 27.5 inches. The size of its bushy tail can reach up to 8 inches. When this mouse sprints, it swirls and raises its tail. 
  • This animal can range in size from 3.5 pounds up to about 24 pounds. To represent a 27-inch-long animal, thirteen golf tees must be lined up on the ground. Another comparison: a gallon of paint weighs as much as an 11-pound marmot. The Olympic marmot is the largest of its kind. The maximum weight for this creature is 18 pounds. Even though this isn’t a domesticated species, it’s nearly as hefty as a full-grown dachshund.

BEHAVIOR AND ADAPTATION

Behavior

  • The marmot uses its vocalizations as a means of self-defense. While foraging above ground, one marmot ‘guards’ a colony of its fellows. It begins a loud whistling noise when it senses a potential threat. Hearing this causes other creatures to seek refuge underground. 
  • They also produce noises like clicking and chattering. Moreover, they can make what sounds like a scream. These ground squirrels have developed their language based on these noises. Certain species of marmot prefer to live in confined quarters or inaccessible locations. These might be a burrow beneath a pile of rocks or a crack in the rock. 
  • Their caves and tunnels protect them from predators, providing them with another option for evading capture or concealing themselves while conducting surveillance.
  • The daytime is when you can find these animals roaming around. Several of them sun themselves on rocks first thing in the morning before going on a hunt for breakfast. Most are colonial animals, meaning they share their habitat with anything from ten to twenty other individuals. Yet, marmot species only socialize with a single individual of the same species. Because of the abundance of predators, this mammal is quite timid. Most of the time, it hides underground and avoids detection.

Adaption

  • To survive the harsh winters in their habitat, these animals hibernate. Because they go into hibernation in September and come out in May, they must eat heavily throughout the summer to ensure they have enough fat reserves.
  • Marmots hibernate by retreating into a hole to keep warm. During deep sleep, a marmot only takes a few breaths every minute. Some of these creatures move between their winter and summer burrows. 
  • In the colder months, they dig underground shelters at lower elevations than in the warmer months.
  • Males can be very possessive of their territory. They leave a smell marker to keep other animals out of their environment. 
  • Within a given colony, marmots generally get along well with one another. Fights can break out amongst the males if an animal from a different settlement enters an unfamiliar burrow. A lot of chasing and biting occurs as they compete for territory.

DIET

  • Marmots get their nutrition solely from plants, such as fruits, nuts, and grains. They eat what’s readily available in their environment in the spring and summer. Animals like the Alpine marmot may safely consume vegetation that might be lethal to other mammals; this is not limited to just one species of marmot.
  • Fall is when these rodents reach their heaviest weight, compared to spring, when they are at their lightest. Because they gorge themselves during the summer months before hibernating for the next nine months, they have plenty of stored fat. An animal might put on 4 or 5 pounds in the weeks leading up to hibernation. 
  • As a result of burning off its winter reserves, it is lighter when it emerges in the spring. Like many other marmot species, the yellow-bellied marmot is not endangered. 
  • As well as being killed for sustenance, Alpine marmots are sometimes targeted in sports hunts. There is also the myth that eating “mankei” fat may alleviate arthritis. Thus, sometimes this species of rodent is captured for this reason.

REPRODUCTION

  • Male marmots will mate with numerous females and fight to protect their young from rival males. A female marmot gives birth after around 30 days of pregnancy. They can have anywhere from three to eight puppies in a litter. Overall, they have an average litter size of 4. 
  • Puppies are born naked and hairless, with their eyes closed. Each new puppy weighs only an ounce when they are born.
  • During three weeks of exclusive breastfeeding, the mother introduces solid foods like grass and herbs to her young. At about four weeks of age, the puppies leave the burrow to go on their first adventures and search for food. 
  • The puppies are still dependent on their mother for some things, but they are maturing rapidly and will soon be able to care for themselves. By the time they are seven weeks old, marmot puppies can care for themselves, although they may still choose to stay with the colony. When 7-week-old pups return to the territory, their parents may force them away, forcing them to build a new burrow network.
  • It takes marmots around two years to reach sexual maturity. A marmot can live for 13–15 years. Many types of intestinal parasites can infect these animals.

PREDATORS

  • Coyotes, foxes, eagles, and badgers are just some animals that prey on this ground squirrel. Coyotes and foxes sometimes track down their burrows in hopes of capturing one of these animals when it emerges in search of food. Eagles can swoop quickly and precisely to catch them when they venture out of their tunnels for food.
  • In addition to adults, these predators can cause harm to infants. Leaving the burrow is the first step in foraging for plants, leaves, and other foods.

Marmot Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Marmots across 29 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Marmots. Marmots, or Marmota, are a species of giant ground squirrel, and they are described as medium-sized rodents with brown fur on their heads and backs and yellow hair on their bellies.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Marmot Facts
  2. Quiz Time
  3. The Famous Rodent
  4. Lookalike
  5. Describe Me
  6. Marmota Marmota
  7. Fact or Bluff?
  8. Facts About Marmots
  9. Gold-digging Ant
  10. Fix It
  11. Where Is It?

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Marmots?

Marmots are a type of large ground squirrel that belongs to the family Sciuridae. They are herbivores and are found in mountainous regions across North America, Europe, and Asia.

What do marmots eat?

Marmots are herbivores and primarily eat grasses, herbs, and other vegetation. They may also consume bark, twigs, and roots, particularly in times of scarcity.

How do marmots survive winter?

Marmots hibernate during the winter to survive the cold temperatures and scarcity of food. Before hibernation, they eat large amounts of food to build up fat reserves, which they rely on during their period of dormancy. During hibernation, their body temperature drops, and their heart rate and breathing slow down to conserve energy.

How long do marmots live?

Marmots typically live for 4-5 years in the wild, although they can live up to 13 years in captivity. Their lifespan is affected by factors such as predation, disease, and availability of food and shelter.

Why are marmots important to the ecosystem?

Marmots play an important role in their ecosystem as prey for predators such as eagles, wolves, and coyotes. They also help to maintain the health of the ecosystem by grazing on vegetation and distributing seeds in their droppings. Additionally, their burrows provide shelter for other animals such as pikas and weasels.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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