Hikers enjoying the quiet of the high mountains in western North America are sometimes startled to hear a sharp whistle nearby. They might stop, thinking someone is trying to get their attention. But if they look closely, they are pretty sure to discover that the whistler is a mountain marmot. They will probably find it perched on top of a rock, carefully watching them.
The marmot, between one and two feet long, looks similar to a beaver. It is the largest member of the squirrel family, weighing up to 28 pounds. Short-legged, with its furry tail stretched out behind and its small ears perked up, its dark eyes closely watch the surroundings for danger. If danger is seen, a sharp whistle warns other marmots to run into their burrows. Soon, one cautiously looks out, and if the danger has disappeared, it gives a different whistle to let its companions know the coast is clear.
Most marmots are social animals, living in family groups or perhaps several groups of families. The only exception is the groundhog, which is fiercely territorial and always lives alone except when a female is raising her babies.
Expert excavators, each family digs its own burrow that can be 50 or more feet long. It has an entrance that is hopefully under a rock big enough that no bear or coyote can shove it aside. Frequently, two burrows lead to one den. This gives the extra safety of two ways to escape the danger or an extra exit from the den if necessary.
As winter approaches, a den at the end of the burrow is lined with plenty of cozy moss and grass. Going into the den for the winter with fattened stomachs dragging on the ground, they are well prepared for hibernation until spring. That’s a good thing, because they hibernate for up to nine months! To do this, their metabolism slows way down, their hearts slow to five beats a minute and their breathing slows way down as well.
Usually one to eight pups are born in late spring to early summer, and about six weeks later they begin to explore outside. They stay with their parents through the summer and hibernate with them the following winter.
Marmots are a good example to us of our opening verse. Of course they don’t know anything about Satan, but they are very watchful for enemies. Sadly, often as Christians we are very careless about doing what that verse teaches, to resist the devil using the shield of faith. Discouragement is one of Satan’s favorite weapons. May we be careful to resist it!
Did You Know?
Marmots hibernate for up to nine months!
Messages of God’s Love 3/30/2025