Yellow-Bellied Marmot

Marmota flaviventris

Yellow-Bellied Marmot. Photo:Gerald and Buff Corsi

Despite its apparent similarity to the common woodchuck, the yellow-belied marmot has little in common with the woodchuck other than its size. It is easily distinguishable by it lack of rufous colouration along its flanks and its yellowish-tinted abdomen. While it is found in Canada in south central British Columbia, the bulk of its range falls south of the border. Unlike its close relative the woodchuck, the yellow-bellied marmot inhabits rocky talus slopes. The yellow-bellied marmot is also much more gregarious than the woodchuck, preferring to remain in colonies rather than live a solitary life. With the coming of winter, the yellow-bellied marmot enters its burrow to hibernate for the winter. During the warmer months it feeds on a steady diet of herbaceous vegetation such as clover and forbs.

Distribution of Yellow-Bellied Marmot in Canada