The Marmot Lawn

When you arrive at the Bezou gondola, go to your left and follow the main track which goes horizontally, do not take the slopes which go down. After a first crossing, continue straight ahead, the track descends slightly towards the Sarrière chairlift station. The marmot is a mammal of the Sciuridae family, the best known representative of which is the squirrel. It was introduced into the Pyrenees after the Second World War. The first specimens were from the Alps. They needed a grassy area with areas of rocks. If at first it was complicated to make this decision understood, it is now part of the landscape where they colonize the alpine lawns.

Pass the Sarrière chairlift station. A little later we see a small green plateau: the marmot lawn. Marmots live in colonies. Identification: each individual can reach 50 to 60 cm and weigh around 5 kg. Although its weight varies a lot between spring and autumn. Its gray-brown to brown coat often depends on its habitat. It has two large orange-colored incisors. The groundhog hibernates unlike the bear which hibernates. With only one letter difference, the two behaviors are very different. The marmot hibernates from October to March, it goes into a state of lethargy unlike the bear which can wake up and emerge from its hibernation to feed.

A little after the chairlift departure station, stay on the right edge or take the time to sit quietly. The marmots are there between the station and the mountain restaurant SnowKfé. The burrows are clearly visible with their piles of rubble in front. Marmots live in family colonies. The galleries go down up to 3 meters deep over around ten lengths and sometimes have several entrances, rooms and toilets. His life is punctuated by long naps in the sun, marmot games and meal periods. She only knows one predator, the eagle. Although foxes have been observed lurking around burrows. Did you know? The groundhog whistles or screams. To warn these fellow creatures, the marmot emits a shrill cry. We are talking about screams and not whistles.