Every Groundhog Day, they drag a poor old Punxsutawney Phil out of his constructed den and see if he sees his own shadow. Will there be 6 more weeks of winter or is spring right around the corner? That predicitive logic might be acceptable for an eastern Groundhog (I personally prefer Woodchuck), but we have our own Groundhog in the Rockies who won’t even if see sunlight for another 3 or 4 months.
Hoary marmots live in the high alpine reaches of northwestern North America and, in particular, the Crown of the Continent ecosystem which encompasses Glacier National Park. They live and thrive in an environment that is immensely harsh. The winters are so taxing that the Hoary marmot must hibernate 7-8 months of the year. These 20 pound rodents spend their winters in a den on a talus slope under feet of snow and ice.
Come summer, the marmots feed upon alpine plants and frolic among the lichen-covered boulders. Folks that are fortunate enough to visit the high country will find these fearless creatures incredibly entertaining.
So if a Hoary Marmot sees its shadow in May, it means that summer is coming…well, even if he doesn’t, summer is coming.
