Marmot, << MAHR muht, >> is the largest member of the squirrel family. Marmots live in burrows, and are found in much of the Northern Hemisphere. They are rodents. The woodchuck is a kind of marmot that lives in open areas. North American marmots are from 1 to 2 feet (30 to 61 centimeters) long. They have short legs, small ears, and furry tails up to 9 inches (23 centimeters) long. Most marmots have gray fur on their backs and yellowish-orange fur on their bellies. Marmots eat plants. They grow fat in autumn and sleep through winter. Female marmots give birth to four or five young in May. Marmots live in colonies (groups) on mountain slopes.
