Alpine marmot

Scientific name: Marmota marmota

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Robust, stocky rodent with reddish-brown to grey-brown fur, darker on the back and lighter on the underside. Males are noticeably larger and heavier than females, with broad heads and small rounded ears.

Size and weight

Males: 4.5–8 kg, 46–52 cm body length; females: 3.5–6 kg, 42–48 cm body length.

Habitat

Alpine marmots inhabit rocky alpine and subalpine meadows, scree slopes, and grasslands typically between 1,800–3,200 m elevation. They require areas with well-drained soils suitable for extensive burrow systems and sparse vegetation.

Distribution

Endemic to the Alps, found from France and Switzerland through Austria to Slovenia and Italy, preferring south-facing slopes and limestone massifs with suitable alpine grassland.

Diet

Alpine marmots feed on alpine grasses, clover, herbs, and roots in summer; they consume seeds, bulbs, and any available vegetation to build fat reserves before hibernation.

Behaviour

Diurnal and highly social, living in family groups with strict hierarchies. Active during warmer daylight hours in summer; they are alert sentries, posting watch while feeding and emitting alarm calls when threatened.

Hunting tips

Look for well-worn trails radiating from burrow entrances and scattered dark droppings near feeding areas. Approach from above or into wind on open terrain, moving slowly during peak feeding times (early morning and late afternoon). Use natural rock outcrops and ridge contours for concealment; exploit their predictable daily movements between burrows and established feeding grounds.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 3 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.