ROCKCHUCK HIBERNATION

[goodgrouper]

I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF ANYBODY OUT THERE HAS EVER REALLY STUDIED YELLOW-BELLIED MARMOT LIFE CYCLES IN REGARDS TO HIBERNATION. I HAVE BEEN HUNTING THESE CRITTERS FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW AND HAVE NOTICED THAT THEY SEEM TO DISAPPEAR ABOUT THE SAME TIME EVERY YEAR REGARDLESS OF THE CURRENT TEMPS. AND THEY SEEM TO RE-EMERGE IN COLDER WEATHER DURING THE SPRING THAN THEY HIDE FROM IN SEPTEMBER. AT ABOUT 3000 FEET, I HAVE SEEN THEM AS EARLY AS FEBRUARY, AND AT 11,000 FEET AS LATE AS MAY. I WAS AT ABOUT 8000 FEET THIS WEEKEND AND THERE WAS NOT ONE TO BE FOUND IN A SPOT THAT IS USUALLY CRAWLING WITH THEM. THE TEMP WAS ABOUT 80, WITH NO WIND AND LOTS OF SUNSHINE. THE GRASS IN THE AREA WAS STILL GREEN AND SUCCULENT. WHAT'S UP?

 

[royinidaho]

Chucks seem to be programmed rather inflexibily. When the grass dries up early they are synchronized just right. On a wet year they waste a lot of growing time. No science, just what I've noticed.