A opportunistic Hoary Marmot found an excellent source to supplement its dietary needs for the essential mineral sodium in Canada’s Tombstone Territorial Park when it happened upon an exhausted hiker taking a high alpine nap. After six hours of trekking the man laid down for a rest only to be woken up by a marmot licking the salty sweat residue on his face. The marmot was gentle and didn’t bite but a little nibble to the man’s sideburns was enough to jostle him out of his slumber much to the entertainment of his hiking partners.
Hoary Marmots, also known as “whistle pigs” for their distinct vocalizations, are largest members of the squirrel family in North America (adult hoary marmots can upwards of 10 pounds and exceed 30 inches in total length). They are diurnal herbivores and seek salt sources related to their dietary needs. Salt plays a crucial role in various physiological functions for marmots, including nerve transmission and muscle function and their diet of plant material does not always provide sufficient sodium. Marmots have been known to exhibit opportunistic behavior sourcing salt by feeding on unattended human food, particularly those high in salt like snacks, or in the rare case a sweaty face of a hiker.