07/23/2026
SPECIES SPOTLIGHT: Olympic marmot
The United States is home to five species of marmot (genus Marmota). Three of which are found in Washington, and one occurs nowhere else on Earth: the Olympic marmot (Marmota olympus). Washington’s official state endemic mammal, the Olympic marmot inhabits the alpine meadows of the Olympic Mountains.
A typical Olympic marmot colony consists of a dominant male, several females, and their young, all sharing an extensive burrow system lined with dried grasses. Burrows need to stay warm and comfortable because marmots spend up to eight months of the year hibernating underground!
During hibernation, Olympic marmots can lose nearly half their body weight. That leaves them just four months to regain those reserves before winter returns. Fortunately, summer alpine meadows are a feast, providing plenty of fresh vegetation such as lupines, buckwheats, and sedges to help them fatten up.
When they aren’t eating, Olympic marmots can often be found basking in the sun or playfully chasing one another. Keep an eye out for them on prominent rocks overlooking meadows. These rocky perches help them soak up warmth while scanning for predators like eagles and bobcats. If danger appears, a sharp, high-pitched alarm whistle warns the rest of the colony, a habit that has earned marmots the nickname “whistle pigs.”
Unfortunately, Olympic marmots face a growing threat from climate change. As temperatures rise, forests gradually creep up in elevation, encroaching on the alpine meadows the marmots depend on. At the same time, reduced snowfall means less insulating snow over their burrows, exposing hibernating marmots to colder air temperatures during the winter.
The good news is that nearly all Olympic marmot habitat is protected within Olympic National Park, where visitors have the opportunity to observe these remarkable animals in the wild. If you’re lucky enough to encounter one, be sure to follow park regulations and give wildlife the space they need to remain wild.
