Images Dated 26th April 2001

Hoary marmot

Hoary marmot (Marmota caligata). This rodent is found in alpine and sub-alpine regions in North America north of Idaho and Washington. Mainly herbivorous, it feeds on the leaves, blossoms and seeds of plants. When food is plentiful it lives in loose social groups, consisting of one dominant male, several females and their offspring and a few subordinate males. However, when food is scarce, it lives in pairs, as the male must extend his range and cannot defend more than one female from invaders. Photographed in Garibaldi, British Columbia, Canada

© ALAN SIRULNIKOFF/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY