Yellow-bellied Marmot at Capitol Reef National ParkYellow-bellied Marmot at Capitol Reef National Park – Nikon D810, f6.3, 1/2500, ISO 640, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

The highlight of my morning yesterday was photographing two Yellow-bellied Marmots at Capitol Reef National Park. I saw several more but could not get photos of them because a fence was in the way. This first marmot was already busy gathering grasses and at one point had a mouthful of them. Yellow-bellied Marmots hibernate during the winter and I always get excited when I see them out of their burrows in the spring.

Yellow-bellied Marmot warming up on a boulderYellow-bellied Marmot warming up on a boulder – Nikon D810, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Yellow-bellied Marmots are nicknamed “Whistle Pigs” for the sounds they make and “Rock Chucks” for the habitat they are found in. This image shows that type of habitat well. I don’t know what this marmot had been doing before I saw it climb up the rocks but once it got to the top it stretched out in the warmth of the sun and seemed to be very relaxed.

Life is good.

Mia