Yellow-bellied Marmot - Big Horn Mountains, Wyoming (click image to view larger)
In the summer 2006 I was exploring the beautiful Big Horn Mountains in north central Wyoming when I encountered this Yellow-bellied Marmot peering over one of the many outcrops of large boulders.
There are two species of North American marmots, Yellow-bellied and Hoary, and they are large members of the ground-squirrel family. Yellow-bellied Marmots prefer to live in rocky places, typically above 6,500 ft/2,000 m elevation. They can weigh up to 11 lbs./4.6 kg and reach lengths of up to 28"/700 mm.
If you are ever in the area - about 2 hours from the east entrance of Yellowstone National Park - it is worth spending a few days exploring the region, either on Scenic Byways U.S. 14, U.S. 14A or, if time permits, both. Even better, obtain a Forest Service map of the area and explore some of the many forest roads, too (but bring a high-clearance, preferably 4WD vehicle).
What a cutie he is!