British Columbia hikers can find themselves in the unexpected company during treks through the ragged, rocky subalpine of Mount Revelstoke and Glacier national parks.
One may joke that the hoary marmot, named for its grey-white (“hoary”) fur, lacks the agility and fitness of its tree squirrel, marten and ground squirrel relatives in the region.
However, this is actually North America’s largest member of the squirrel family – and it certainly doesn’t let moss grow as it fattens up for hibernation, which lasts September to May.
Among four marmot species in B.C., hoary marmots can clock 13 pounds and uniquely take to the high-elevation expanses of the Coast and Rocky mountains, burrowing in treeless, rock-laden meadows.
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A hoary marmot along Balu Pass in Glacier National Park on Sunday, June 29. Evert Lindquist/Revelstoke Review
With their range spanning from the contiguous U.S. all the way up to Alaska, they can nevertheless be distinguished from other marmots by the white facial mark between their eyes and their especially long brownish tail.
An unbelievable fun fact about these particular marmots? They’re the reason Whistler got its name in 1965, which pays homage to the high-pitch call these rodents use to alert one another in the mountains.
If you visit the upper trails of Mount Revelstoke, or pass through the subalpine valleys of Glacier, you’re more than likely to encounter these fluffy philosophers, as they contemplate the beautiful world around them from the perfect viewing rock.
READ MORE: Baby boom of 59 pups helps endangered Vancouver Island marmot toward recovery
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