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A View to Die For


A View to Die For
Photo Information
Copyright: Rick Price (Adanac) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1111 W: 1 N: 4518] (15132)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-09-03
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon 20D, Canon 100-400/4.5-5.6L IS
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/400 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): posts with a difference [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-12-28 16:57
Viewed: 732
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This Hoary Marmot is standing looking over the cliff edge at the Salmon Glacier in British Columbia. This area is simply gorgeous and he gets to live here, mind you he also has some neighbours who would like to have him for supper and he is the main course. There is eagles, bears and wolves in this area too.
Hoary Marmot
Marmota caligata
Also known as - Whistler, Siffleux.
General Description

By Gustave J. Yaki


The Hoary Marmot is also known as the "Whistler" and "Siffleux", its French equivalent. This species ranges throughout the northern mountains of North America, from southern Montana, central Idaho and Washington, northward through British Columbia and Alberta to the Northwest Territories, Yukon and southern Alaska.

This, the largest marmot on this continent, reaching weights of 14 kg (30 lb), occurs in Alberta only at high elevations, between 2,100-2,450 m (6,800-8,000 ft) in the Rocky Mountains. There they mostly live above treeline, on the alpine tundra, to the limit of vegetation. Its provincial range extends from Waterton Lakes National Park northward to the Torrens River area in Kakwa Wildlands Provincial Park.

The coat of this marmot is two-toned. It has white hairs that are black-tipped from its shoulders down to about its mid-back; on the rump, the hairs are creamy with black tips. The underside is grey. The feet, top of the head, and a narrow stripe behind the ears are black. The muzzle is off-white, as are zones in front of the eyes and ears.

Measurements of average Alberta adult males are: total length, 699 mm (28 in); tail, 201 mm (8 in); weight 4.7 kg (10.3 lb). Females appear to be larger.

Like all marmots, the Hoary is also diurnal. Also, they tend to live in loose colonies. Their den is usually under the edge of a rockslide, or preferably under a huge boulder, thwarting the efforts of Grizzly Bears which attempt to dig them out. The grassy nest is hidden at the end of the tunnel, deep in a crevice. Ever watchful, from the top of a large boulder, there is always one marmot monitoring the surrounding territory. When danger is perceived, the Whistler issues a long, shrill, warning, policeman's-like whistle which possesses tremendous carrying capacity. Others pick up the sound, passing it down the valley. This alerts individuals feeding at some distance from the safety of their den to gallop for home.

Normally, in remote areas, one does not to get to see much of them after the warning whistle is sounded. However, where marmots regularly see hikers (and are never harassed), when one sits down quietly at lunchtime, he may have the pleasure of them visiting him.

Hoary Marmots are vegetarians, feeding on a large variety of green plants -- grasses and other herbaceous species, which at this elevation, often grow for only eight weeks. If the vegetation is sparse near their den, they may roam several hundred yards to find enough to eat. That is when they are most vulnerable to predators. This includes Grizzly and Black Bears, Wolves, and especially, Golden Eagles. They do not store any food underground. Instead, they develop a heavy layer of fat to tide them over the winter. They spend as much as eight months in hibernation, often from the end of August until the end of April. Some fat still remains upon emergence, providing them with the energy needed for reproduction and other activities until plants again start to grow.

Hoary Marmots probably mate shortly after coming out of hibernation. The litter of four of five are born by early June. The young first appear at the den entrance in late July. When they are one year old, they are still only half-grown. They probably do not breed until nearly two years of age.
eqshannon, pankajbajpai, jaycee, lovenature, uleko, Alex99, fartash, NinaM, claudine, bizsu has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

You know what makes this real cute shot? It has the look of an advertisement...and in some ways it almost looks like modeling and green screen Chroma key stuff......that doesn't make it bad...as a matter of fact, this kind of image is sell-able...it smacks of nature and attractant...very cool...you are a man full of surprises and no I haven't had a minute to look through the list of things but I will get a "round tuit" :-)
Bob

  • Great 
  • RP1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 169 W: 1 N: 124] (2104)
  • [2007-12-28 19:05]

Salut Rick,
Very nice photo with beatiful colour and great composition.
TFS,
Roger

hello rick,

this one is a real cute one, the image has been composed beautifully, nice pov, i liked the pose and the mood very much, the title suits the image very well,

wish you and your family a very happy new year 2008,

best wishes,
pankaj

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1911 W: 8 N: 4976] (16095)
  • [2007-12-28 20:09]

Hi Rick,

This is great! The pose of the Marmot is wonderful. The setting is beautiful. Details of the Marmot are wonderful. He looks as if he is smiling.

Jane

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-12-28 21:13]

Hello Rick

A lovely alert pose you have captured,and yes I can see that this fellow lives in a beautiful locale.
I think the pink flower in the BG makes a wonderful accent to the shot.
Well focused with very good detail.
The natural colours are excellent.
TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • demeve Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 515 W: 8 N: 1135] (4182)
  • [2007-12-28 21:44]

Hello Rick,
Very nice capture of this sentinel, looking for danger.
Great POV and composition, very sharp image, I also I can
see why he would live there.. is so beautiful.. Well done

Everton

Hehe Rick,
very nice capture of this splendid Marmot, I like so much his standing attitude, great focus and lovely scene,
cheer,
friendly,
Pat

Hi Rick
Hey, you so lucky to get close to a Marmot. I know they are very shy and zoom away when they see us humans. This is a nice image of the Marmot stretching up for a gaze. Excellent colour and detail. The Juniper in the background makes for a nice contrast to the light colour of the Marmot. Well done and good notes.
Cheers
Janice

Hi Rick,

Lovely composition, really like the pink flower on the left, it gives a delicate touch to the image. Great details in the fur, very well done!

Lise

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2585 W: 170 N: 7879] (24911)
  • [2007-12-29 10:05]

Hello Rick,
This is a splendid capture of this little Marmot, a pretty shy animal I expect! It looks as if he's admiring the flower! It's a lovely scene with the subject sharply in focus and the colours are beautiful too. Very well composed!
Many thanks and regards,Ulla

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1427 W: 128 N: 5252] (23221)
  • [2007-12-29 10:30]

Hello Rick ! What a fine shot you've done there ! Perfectly composed and exposed with great details and surroundings ! Thanks ! Happy 2008 !

Mario

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3174 W: 154 N: 4796] (15481)
  • [2007-12-29 10:54]

Hi Rick.
Simply charming scene. Bravo. Looks like from fairy-tail. All is perfect. Thanks a lot.
Alexei.

Hello Rick
What a wonderful shot of this Hoary Marmot,
Perfect pose,exposure and focusing,
Superb shot.

Good Luck
Fartash

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 655 W: 0 N: 1623] (5300)
  • [2007-12-30 5:33]

Hi Rick, I almost missed this one which is such a fine picture! It has a 3D feeling to it and I love the pink flower at the left, it adds an unreal touch to it that is really nice. As if nature was decorating itself. I like the pose of the marmot too, it is so relaxed, seems friendly. The composition is superb with the tree in the back, the hill and the little animal making lines crossing the frame: very well seen. Thanks for the great note as well!

Francine

Hi Rick,
This must be one of the most original Marmot's pictures I have seen so far. But it is not only a picture of this cute animal; it is also a fantastic landscape! Wow, what a timing you had for this one! Thanks,
Claudine

  • Great 
  • bizsu Silver Star Critiquer [C: 40 W: 0 N: 5] (156)
  • [2008-01-05 12:57]

Hi Rick,
Favorit ! This photo was very good, congratulate. Good colours, good the setting. He is a sharp picture. TFS.
Gretting, Zsú

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