Happy (unofficial) yellow-bellied marmot day! 💛 If you ever see a marmota flaviventris (that's fancy science language for marmot) licking a rock it's taking in the electrolytes from the salt. This builds up their muscle and nervous system strength giving them a better chance at survival. | Pikes Peak - America's Mountain

This yellow-bellied marmot is doing his part in helping biologists Colorado State University better understand hibernation, including bone metabolism and food intake regulation. While hibernating, these little creatures don’t eat for 6 whole months, and their body temperature drops to near freezing. Even the babies hibernate! For the first year they do so with their mothers. When they aren’t in hibernation, yellow-bellied marmots take care of one another by communicating using distinctive alarm

Caption this! 😁 Get up close to this yellow-bellied marmot that was documented by Nat Geo Explorer and National Geographic Photo Ark founder Joel Sartore, Photographer at the Rocky Mountain Wildlife Alliance in Sedalia, Colorado. Learn more about Photo Ark’s mission to use the power of storytelling and science to highlight and protect our planet’s incredible biodiversity. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/society/our-programs/photo-ark/ | National Geographic Society

This Yellow Bellied Marmot was rescued by our good friends at Placer Co Animal Control when he was seen out in the middle of the road in Truckee circling and obviously confused. As soon as he arrived here at BEAR League headquarters we discovered he was severely emaciated and blind. He’s eating good now and we’ll do everything we can to get him well and back ‘home’. He needs your prayers and encouraging thoughts… because it will help. Thanks, everyone. | BEAR League