Rodents of unusual size? They definitely exist. Marmota monax, AKA the groundhog, woodchuck, whistle pig, or our personal favorite–“land beaver”–will be the star of the show for Groundhog Day tomorrow, Feb. 2.
We have some of Punxsutawney Phil’s cousins in our own neck of the woods. Yellow-bellied marmots (marmota flaviventris) can tip the scales at 11 pounds and spend about half their lives in hibernation–talk about sucking years of your life away!
According to the National Park Service, marmots slow their heart rate from 200 beats per minute to just 30 to conserve energy while they wait out winter … inconceivable!
Seeing as how all of Rio Blanco County’s yellow-bellied marmots will be hibernating until April or May, definitely count on six-plus more weeks of winter.
PHOTO FROM NPS.GOV
