Steppe marmot

A steppe marmot is a relative of mice and squirrels. The steppe marmot's body is thick, the paws are short and strong, with big claws. It has a big head, short neck and tail.

Marmots settle in small families and dig long burrows. The animals throw out ground and accumulated garbage.

Marmots are very kind. By day, they eat succulent grass all together. The marmots are very cautious, they inform about a danger with a loud whistle. At the end of summer, the marmots try to eat more for storing reserves of fat for winter. In September, the animals get together in their burrows, close all the entries and go into hibernation that lasts from the end of autumn to the beginning of spring. In winter, the marmots do not eat and almost do not move.