Marmots are widespread in western North America.
We may associate marmots with alpine meadows, but they actually live in suitable habitat down to the lower foothills. Marmots can be waddling fat in the fall, and their long fur makes them look even fatter. Adults are about 26 inches long and weigh to 11 pounds. M armots burrow deep into the soil beneath boulders to den. Up to half of their summer weight is lost during hibernation, and animals with insufficient fat or a burrow too shallow to prevent freezing do not arouse in the spring.