Marmot

The chorus of marmots' whistles can be heard on almost every mountain hike. It lets hikers know that they have been spotted and pose no threat. But where can these noisy little animals be found? Small mounds in the Alpine pasture reveal where they have dug their burrow system. The whole marmot family disappears into the tunnels at the first sign of danger, but after just a few minutes, the first of them poke their noses back out of the holes and begin to nibble at the herbs. When two marmots meet, they sniff each other or rub their cheeks together. In marmot language, this means “you belong to us”. The rodents put on plenty of fat during the summer months. When winter begins, they snuggle together to sleep in a cave within their burrow system. Their hibernation lasts several months, during which they feed on their fat.

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Source Jürg Paul Müller: Das Murmeltier Desertina, Chur