Olympic marmot

The Olympic marmot (Marmota olympus) is a species of marmot native to the Olympic Mountains in Washington state, USA. Marmots, in general, are large, heavy rodents belonging to the genus Marmota, found in North America and Eurasia. They are well-adapted to cold environments with short, stocky legs and strong claws for digging burrows.12

Olympic marmots are distinguished by their habit of bearing young every other year, unlike most other marmot species that reproduce annually. These diurnal, vegetarian rodents inhabit open country in mountains and plains, preferring montane meadows, steppes, tundra, and forest edges. When threatened, they emit a sharp whistle and retreat to their burrows.2