Operation: Marmot Rescue

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Kiefer
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Operation: Marmot Rescue

Post by Kiefer »

So, as I was leaving work earlier this morning (had to drop off some paperwork), I walked out to the parking lot towards my truck and I heard two sharp chirps, like a marmot. I stopped, looked around really confused and thought, "what's a marmot doing in Montrose?" Then I heard two more chirps. I slowly turned & looked at my truck and thought, "There's no f**king way."
We were up at Cinnamon Pass yesterday & left my truck parked for a while so we could do a car shuttle.

I lifted my hood & right there was a a fatty sitting on top of my engine cover. The FIRST marmot bolted off my engine and ran around my work building into the grass & bushes.
The SECOND marmot wouldn't budge. That dipshit was staying put. I even used bear spray on it. Still nothing. But, man. Those cries after I hit him with the pepper spray were heart-wrenching. :(

After two hours, he finally fled my truck. But I managed to capture him in a trap. We took him up to Owl Creek Pass and let him go. Poor thing was tied, exhausted and scared. But what's worse, he'll no longer be with his mate. I don't know how long the other one will survive in Montrose.

So, PSA. Wrap your vehicles at trailheads. Because the truck might have brake damage and other associated wiring is chewed through.
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Will_E
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Re: Operation: Marmot Rescue

Post by Will_E »

That’s crazy, surprised we don’t see this more often.

Google says they commonly live as low as 6500’ in Colorado, I rarely see them below 10k.
osprey
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Re: Operation: Marmot Rescue

Post by osprey »

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We live at 6450 feet in SW Colorado and over the years we have intermittently had several marmot families living under our barn.
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SkaredShtles
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Re: Operation: Marmot Rescue

Post by SkaredShtles »

Woodchucks gonna chuck... :mrgreen:
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Scott P
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Re: Operation: Marmot Rescue

Post by Scott P »

Will_E wrote: ↑Sun May 24, 2026 4:08 pm That’s crazy, surprised we don’t see this more often.

Google says they commonly live as low as 6500’ in Colorado, I rarely see them below 10k.
There are a lot of them around Craig at 6180 feet elevation but it's colder there than most places at the same elevation. It's only a little higher than Montrose.

They live in Capitol Reef at a lower elevation than Montrose but I assume they are a sub-species.
I'm old, slow and fat. Unfortunately, those are my good qualities.
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desertdog
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Re: Operation: Marmot Rescue

Post by desertdog »

Bonnie and Clyde! Reminder to use the chicken wire!

I had one hitch a ride with me all the way back to Santa Fe from South Mineral Creek. He took up residence in my garden for a week, then was gone. Unfortunately lot of Coyotes on my land.
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Kiefer
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Re: Operation: Marmot Rescue

Post by Kiefer »

desertdog wrote: ↑Mon May 25, 2026 6:12 am Bonnie and Clyde! Reminder to use the chicken wire!

I had one hitch a ride with me all the way back to Santa Fe from South Mineral Creek. He took up residence in my garden for a week, then was gone. Unfortunately lot of Coyotes on my land.
Makes you wonder how it survived that long of a drive without being cooked to death!
Interesting that they can live that low. The more you know, right?
osprey wrote: ↑Sun May 24, 2026 4:47 pm We live at 6450 feet in SW Colorado and over the years we have intermittently had several marmot families living under our barn.
They are cute! Did you name them? Did you give them wiring harnesses to practice on? :mrgreen:
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Re: Operation: Marmot Rescue

Post by osprey »

^
Ha! No wiring practice!
The marmots never damaged our two vehicles because every spring I gave the new marmot pups a series of lectures on “Proper and Righteous Behavior for Young Marmots.”
"Rocks, mountains, snow and ice: what more do we desire?" - Reinhard Karl

“I breathed in the air on the summit and liked it better than the air below.”
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Re: Operation: Marmot Rescue

Post by wonderwi »

Once Colorado completes the planned introduction of wolverines, the marmots will have something else to worry about.
Nothing like a fat marmot to satisfy a wolverines' dinner plans!
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RyGuy
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Re: Operation: Marmot Rescue

Post by RyGuy »

Yeah, wrapping is the only good way to go. I've had a 2 foot tall snow fence that I use on my Jeep nearly anytime I am parked in the backcountry. Helps with Marmots during the day and Porcupines at night. Well worth it.
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DArcyS
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Re: Operation: Marmot Rescue

Post by DArcyS »

I heard a similar story from another many years ago, except the marmot exited the car in a closed garage. That made for an easy capture. I might be a little too lazy to do the wire bit, but opening up the hood and giving a quick look, not too much effort, we'll see...
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madmattd
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Re: Operation: Marmot Rescue

Post by madmattd »

Saw a report last night from the Broomfield police about someone finding a marmot in their vehicle after returning from Lake City. https://www.kktv.com/2026/05/28/friendl ... roomfield/