We have two local species of marmot: yellow-bellied and hoary. The yellow-bellied marmot lives in the valleys and has been featured two times this year: mommy marmot, March marmot. The hoary marmot lives in alpine country and has appeared only once and that was last year: Bethany’s marmot.
While on a recent hike between Gibson Lake and Kaslo Lake, my daughter, Cynthia, was surprised by how boldly a marmot approached and examined her sneakers.
A hoary marmot stands in a field of western anenome.
The marmots take an interest in hikers. This one licked and chewed Cynthia’s tattered trail runners.
The marmot’s black, brown and grey blends well with its home terrain. 
This is Cynthia’s panorama of Kokanee Lake from the trail alongside it. Marmots prefer the alpine meadows to the rocky slopes of this lake.
Cynthia Fraser’s pictures are used with permission.
Thanks for this. I photographed a marmot last week at the top of Whistler Mountain and now I know that it’s a hoary marmot. My pictures aren’t very good, but they’re good enough to identify.
Heather, that is poetic. After all, Whistler Mountain is named for the sound this marmot makes.
The one that I saw was licking rock. I assumed he was getting some minerals from it, but am not sure what a marmot can get from runners. One of my pictures is on my current blog post, if you are interested. Pretty sure you won’t be interested in the rest of the blog!
Heather, marmots will also lick a hiker’s legs, if given the chance. Presumably they seek salt.
Now I wish I had waited there. I’d love to have a marmot lick my legs.
I’d be a little concerned that they might bite but I’d likely let them get close all the same.
Lorna, marmots are vegetarians.
“Hippie-on-a-stick” is a friend, not anenome 😉 sorry, couldn’t resist