Marmots are 24-30 inches long including a 76-10 inch tail. They weigh 8-20 pounds as adults. Coloring is grey over the shoulders, honey- brown on the flanks, black feet, a black band over the nose; and a grizzled appearance. Four to six young are born in May and June with a birth weight of 1 1/2 ounces. They may live 10 years or more.

Marmots eat grasses, flowers, roots and forbs. They are eaten by wolverines, wolves, red foxes, coyotes, grizzly bears and golden eagles.

Their primary habitat area is at the base of talus slopes in mountainous regions throughout Alaska.