Beyond Thunderdome
A male Hoary Marmot (Marmota caligata) pauses between mouthfuls to stare balefully in my general direction near Logan Pass, Glacier National Park, Montana.
A few minutes before this was taken, I spotted this aggressive fellow chasing pell-mell down the slope after another rival male. The chasee only narrowly gained the sanctuary of a small crevice, cracked into the side of a large boulder. Not a split second later, this fellow here swarmed into the crack, and there was to be heard a strange song of marmot sorrow emanating from within the stone. This sound was made several times before the first marmot burst from the rock, and raced away as fast as he could. This insouciant victor then strolled casually about on the slope above the boulder, enjoying lunch, and making sure tourists stayed a respectful distance away (notice the 400 mm).
Beyond Thunderdome
A male Hoary Marmot (Marmota caligata) pauses between mouthfuls to stare balefully in my general direction near Logan Pass, Glacier National Park, Montana.
A few minutes before this was taken, I spotted this aggressive fellow chasing pell-mell down the slope after another rival male. The chasee only narrowly gained the sanctuary of a small crevice, cracked into the side of a large boulder. Not a split second later, this fellow here swarmed into the crack, and there was to be heard a strange song of marmot sorrow emanating from within the stone. This sound was made several times before the first marmot burst from the rock, and raced away as fast as he could. This insouciant victor then strolled casually about on the slope above the boulder, enjoying lunch, and making sure tourists stayed a respectful distance away (notice the 400 mm).