Tag Archives: Animals

nature, Photography

A Marmot Afternoon

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When we were out walking near the marmot colony a couple of days ago, we saw many, many of them, including some of this year’s young ones.

Some were sunning themselves on the warm rocks …

… while others were taking their turn at guard duty …

… and the young ones? They were just curiously exploring their world.

Happy Sunday.

nature, Photography

More Marmots

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I visited the marmot colony a few days ago. It was lovely to be outside.

There’s a nearby bench with a good view of their burrow and if I sit very quietly and as motionlessly as possible, many of them will start coming out into the open.

When they’re not on guard duty – they have to be vigilant about the resident eagles – they usually are in very affectionate pairs. They like to be right next to each other and constantly do a lot of low chatting, too.

This pair found a number of dandelions that someone had set out for them. Marmots love dandelions and will eat the whole plant, including the roots.

This one decided to keep a careful eye on me.

It was a beautifully warm day to watch the marmots and just enjoy the weather.

Happy Sunday.

Commentary, nature, Photography

Marmot Sightings

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We have a large marmot colony living nearby in the rock breakwater next to an area of the lake.

They are awake, active and very healthy looking after their hibernation.
They will allow people to observe them but getting too close makes them nervous and they will disappear into their large communal burrow below the rocks.
I love how they are constantly greeting each other with great affection and murmurings.

All marmots, including the ones above, are protected in British Columbia, especially the Vancouver Island marmots which have been brought back from the brink of extinction but whose numbers are still critically low.

Happy Tuesday.

Commentary, nature, Photography

Marmots

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We have a colony of marmots along the rock breakwater at the edge of Okanagan Lake. M and I discovered them on one of our morning walks.

This one was stock still and keeping a close eye on us, ready to give his community a warning if needed.

There were a number of community members about, socialising and eating.

This one has a different colouration, probably because it seems to be younger.

There are quite a few different varieties of marmots, but essentially they are large ground squirrels and are a part of the family sciuridae. This family also includes the famous weather-predicting groundhogs of stage and screen.

This little community has found a great location to call home; it’s just around the bend in the path shown below, where it begins to follow the shoreline.

Happy Wednesday.

Commentary, nature, Photography

Woodland Caribou

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The woodland caribou is known in Europe as reindeer, so it’s appropriate that they inhabit the Northwest Territories, or “Santa country.”

They actually don’t live northwards enough to call the true North Pole their neighbourhood though, because as their name indicates, they prefer wooded areas.

Shy and somewhat introverted, they are sociable only in small numbers and inhabit the same small area for their entire lives; they don’t migrate.

Unfortunately, their numbers are also dropping. Efforts are being made to help them recover, and the Northwest Territories’ woodland caribou are starting to do better.

Happy Saturday.