This little guy was standing at the roadside near Columbia River Gorge on May 12, 2013. It was growing dark, as dusk deepened, and he appeared to be fairly young and inexperienced, even lacking a normal dose of fear for man. When we stopped the car and started chattering at him, he merely wiggled his nose and blinked. Sometimes I wonder if they operate more on instinct than free-will. Marmota caligata is the largest of the marmot species and has a decent range throughout the northwest. Another name for this species is "whistle pig," for which the town of Whistler in British Columbia is named.
They are a cute sort of creature, aren't they. I didn't know that Whistler was named after it. That's a fun fact. See you soon, son. xo mom
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