Part 6

Marmots are found throughout the park at all altitudes wherever suitable rocky slopes can be found. They are commonly seen from the highway on rock piles or near culverts. Such areas provide the most suitable protection since they are slow and fat and easily caught if found too far away from a safe retreat. Easily tamed, they soon adjust themselves to the presence of numerous visitors and even congregate in the vicinity of lodges and cabin areas where shelter under buildings is handy and scraps of food are plentiful.

The marmot well deserves its early name of “Whistler” for his piercing warning whistle is commonly heard whenever anything startles him. And immediately upon hearing it every other marmot in the vicinity pops his head up for a quick look, then starts for home. Their favorite retreat is on a rock or knoll or log, near the home entrance, where a good view of the surrounding area can be had. Bears, badgers, coyotes, lynxes and some of the larger hawks are their principal enemies.

Their food consists of vegetation of various kinds, clover, grass, seeds, and foliage of native plants as well as cultivated crops when such are within their feeding range. In some instances marmots have proved quite destructive to gardens and other crops.

The marmot’s home is either in a burrow dug in open ground or under boulders or in cavities under rockslides. In this den, the young, numbering from four to six, are born in May. The adults usually hibernate earlier in the season than the young as it takes the latter a little longer to get the necessary accumulation of fat to sustain them over the winter.

General description: A large rodent with a heavy-set body and short tail. Head broad and short, ears low and rounded, fur long and coarse. The color is ochraceous above and reddish below with golden-buff mantle on the anterior back. The males are about 24 inches in length, maximum weight about 10 pounds. Females a little smaller.

Where found: Throughout the park at all elevations except in heavy-timbered areas. They are out at any time during daylight hours.

MONTANA MANTLED GROUND SQUIRREL Citellus lateralis cinerascens

This Ground Squirrel is frequently mistaken for a chipmunk although quite a bit larger in size. This mistaken identity is chiefly due to the stripes on the side of the back. It must be remembered, however, that the real chipmunk has stripes on the face also which this ground squirrel does not have. They do look and behave much like big chipmunks, especially resembling the chipmunk of the eastern states.

The Mantled Ground Squirrel seldom climbs much above the ground and lives in burrows or crevices in the rocks or under logs. They prefer grassy, open, forested areas rather than open meadows.

These little animals are quite easily tamed and soon learn to hang around camps and parking areas where they wait to be fed. They are equipped with cheek pouches which they fill until they appear to have an extra bad case of the mumps.

They hibernate in the late summer or early autumn and emerge again the following April. A supply of food is stored during the summer season; however, the heavy layer of fat acquired is the nourishment for the winter sleep.

Only one litter of from four to seven young is born each season, usually during May.

Their food consists of seeds, grain, buds, green vegetation, insects and their larvae, and occasionally young birds, eggs and mice. Chief enemies are hawks and the various small carnivores.

General description: A small to medium sized ground-dwelling squirrel, larger and more robust than chipmunks but not as heavily built as the Uinta Ground Squirrel. Tail about half as long as the head and body, flat and bushy. Color of upper parts dark chestnut red mantle bordering which are light-gray stripes with black on either side of the light stripe; under parts yellow to yellowish-white. Upper parts grayer in winter. No stripes on side of head. Length about 11 inches. Sexes alike.

Where found: Generally distributed over the park and is best seen around camps and woodland margins. Active in daytime only.

UINTA GROUND SQUIRREL Citellus armatus

This Ground Squirrel, commonly called Picket-pin, is abundant throughout most of the open, grassy valleys of the park. It comes into lawns and frequently lives under nearby buildings.

The picket-pin is extremely curious and the sight of any strange object or movement immediately has him standing rigidly on tip-toe to examine whatever attracted his attention. This position he assumes does so resemble the appearance of a pin to which some horse was previously tethered that the reason for the origin of his name can readily be seen.

These little animals spend over half of their lives sleeping in their snug underground nests. They spend the summer accumulating a heavy layer of fat and then go into hibernation late in August to emerge the following April.

The young, from five to fourteen in number, are born in May or June. Only one litter a year is born; however, this species is so numerous and prolific that its many enemies can hardly keep it in check.

Most common enemies are badgers, coyotes, bears, foxes, weasels, hawks and most small carnivores. These all depend upon the picket-pin for at least part if not considerable of their diet during the summer and they frequently are dug out after they are in hibernation. This control is beneficial since the picket-pin is a host to the wood tick carrying spotted fever.

The food of the ground squirrel is chiefly seeds, nuts, grain, green vegetation, roots, insects and larvae with occasionally young birds, mammals and eggs. It stores grain and seeds in underground storerooms for emergency use the following spring as it does not eat during the winter hibernation.

General description: A terrestrial, burrowing squirrel with short tail and small ears, body robust with short limbs. Tail about one-quarter the total length, flat and moderately bushy. Color mixed gray and black with a wash of dark brown on the back; underparts gray washed buffy. Sexes alike. Total length about 11 inches.

Where found: Open, grassy areas throughout the valleys of the park. Active in daytime only.

GATES OPEN 7:00 A.M. TO 11:00 P.M. DURING MAIN SEASON MAXIMUM SPEED 45 MILES TRUCKS AND TRAILERS 30 MILES OBSERVE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WHEN VISITING HOT WATER AREAS. STAY ON MAIN PATHS! ABIDE BY ALL RULES. PROTECT THE GEYSER AND HOT SPRING FORMATIONS! FEEDING OR MOLESTING BEARS IS DANGEROUS BE CAREFUL WITH FIRE IN THE WOODS HELP US PRESERVE YOUR PARK

CAMPING is permitted throughout Yellowstone National Park on specially designated camp sites easily recognized by signs. Leave clean grounds for the next camper.

CHIPMUNK Eutamias sp.

One of the most active and interesting of the smaller animals of the park. This genus is represented in the park by three species.