Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Marmots around Trail Camp

Having seen these marmots first hand - I find myself wondering - why are they so daring?

It's almost as if the marmots expect to be fed. One marmot almost came right up to me - even though I kept shooing it away. It's almost as if it was expecting me to feed it.

Is this what some people are doing??

Finally I had to throw a few rocks at it - and even then, it only left when one rock narrowly missed it's head (I sent the other ones wide on purpose).

There were also other rodents around - small 'rabbit mice' - mice with big ears. They don't appear to have damaged my gear, but I was really expecting to wake up to a bag and tent full of holes. Or to find that they had dragged away my socks (which I had left to dry in my vestibule.

they've been "trained" to either be fed, or to expect that you'll leave something like your backpack which they can get into.

At trail crest, I watched a marmot eat a power bar it skillfully extracted from a pack left on the trail. That's why they're so "healthy looking."

They're simply opportunistic.

Probably pikas.

Marmots are very opportunistic.

Several years ago while sitting down at Trail Camp after a summit, I saw a camper lay down her bag of gorp behind her.

As soon as she sat that down, a marmot came up behind her and took off with her bag of gorp.

She got her bag back with no harm to the gorp.

I've never seen a pika eat anything other than grass or wildflower tops. However, anything could happen.

Marmots will eat just about anything from human origin, although I've never seen them eat meat.

Don't be fooled. Last time I was at TC, I saw one sneak up behind a hiker, grab her phone and order an extra large Officer Pino Special.

Likely with anchovies. Pikas love anchovies.

Oh, c'mon get serious. Pikas can't use a phone! I meant the marmot.