Mammals of Washington, Volume 2: University of Kansas Publications Museum of Natural HistoryDalquest, Walter Woelber
Science
Mammals of Washington, Volume 2: University of Kansas Publications Museum of Natural History
Dalquest, Walter Woelber
Mammals -- Washington (State)
The clear, shrill whistle of the hoary marmot is familiar to all who
penetrate its haunts. The whistle is remarkably similar to the whistle
of a person. Locally the hoary marmot is known as "whistler" or "whistle
pig." Individuals emerge from hibernation early in June; most adults
retire again by the middle of September. On September 14, 1937, a young
of the year was shot and few were seen where they had been common in
June. All were shy. Only one adult was seen.
Large hawks and eagles commonly hunt over the rock slides inhabited by
marmots, and probably kill very young individuals. Only the larger
predators such as bear, cougar, wolf, coyote, lynx, and bobcat would be
expected to kill an adult hoary marmot.
=Marmota olympus= (Merriam)
Olympic marmot
_Arctomys olympus_ Merriam, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, p.
352, October 4, 1898.
[_Marmota_] _olympus_ Trouessart, Catal. Mamm., viv. foss. suppl.,
p. 344, 1904.
_Type._--Obtained at timber-line, head of Sol Duc River, Clallam
County, Washington, by C. H. Merriam, on August 27, 1897; type in
United States National Museum.
_Measurements._--Two small but adult females from Deer Park,
Clallam County, measure respectively: total length 758, 691;
length of tail 163, 161; hind foot 106, 97; ear 31, 29.
_Distribution._--This species is confined to the Olympic
Mountains.
_Description._--The Olympic marmot closely resembles the hoary marmot,
and differs in being slightly larger, and reddish or rusty brown where
the hoary marmot is gray. It lacks the blackish overwash of the hoary
marmot. The nose is whitish.
Although the Olympic marmot belongs to the hoary marmot group it is a
distinct species, most closely related to the marmot of the mountains of
Vancouver Island. Its habits differ but little from those of the hoary
marmot. It lives in burrows in talus slides and boulder piles near
timber line. A few burrows are dug beneath logs. Well worn trails lead
from burrows to feeding grounds on nearby grassy slopes and heather
meadows. High rocks or logs serve as lookouts. The alarm whistle is
similar to that of the hoary marmot.
=Citellus townsendii townsendii= (Bachman)
Townsend ground squirrel; sage rat
_Spermophilus townsendii_ Bachman, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci.
Philadelphia, 8:61, 1839.
_Spermophilus mollis yakimensis_ Merriam, Proc. Biol. Soc.
Washington, 12:70, March 24, 1898.
[_Citellus mollis_] _yakimensis_ Trouessart, Cat. Mamm., Sup., p.
339, 1904.
_Citellus townsendii townsendii_ Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 56:60,
May 18, 1938.
[Illustration: FIG. 84B. Distribution of the Townsend and Washington
ground squirrels in Washington. A. _Citellus townsendii townsendii._
B. _Citellus washingtoni._]
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