Alpine Whistleblowers: On the Playground of the Marmots

These rabbit-sized rodents are a beloved sight at Austrias Groglockner. Once common in Tirols lowlands before the last ice age, marmots now thrive high in the Alps, as warmer climates drive them above 800 meters. After a six-month hibernation, they emerge in spring to feed, regain strength, and mateoften sparking fierce male rivalries. Ever alert to golden eagles, sentinels whistle warnings while the group feeds. By summer, their young emerge, learning to survive in the mountains.