COLORADO – Six young marmots born to a mother who’d managed to hitch her way down from Mt. Blue Sky in a car engine were rereleased into the wild this week after months of rehabilitation with Greenwood Wildlife.
Finally the moment of marmot release with multiple cameras set up to capture the scene. @Greenwood_CO opens the crate and….nothing pic.twitter.com/9sqgq5Mw4e
— CPW NE Region (@CPW_NE) October 2, 2024
According to Colorado Parks & Wildlife, the pregnant mother hitched her way down back in June, unsuspectedly having six pups in a Lafayette garage. Sadly the mother was hit by a car a few days later. Greenwood Wildlife then took in the ups, rehabbing them to a healthy, chunky size.
Colorado Parks & Wildlife recently went to release the pups in Staunton State Park, choosing a release spot near rock formations and abandoned marmot dens so as to avoid conflict with the resident, and frequently territorial, marmots.
Upon the moment of release, the crate was opened and the marmots stayed put, refusing to leave. Some prodding managed to get two of the animals out, but the other four still stayed in the nut-filled crate. Removing the crate didn’t seem to work either, but some hazing and time managed to get the animals to scatter.
Thanks to both Greenwood Wildlife and Colorado Parks and Wildlife for the hard work in keeping Colorado’s animals healthy and happy!
For #WildlifeWednesday listen to this success story starring marmots. Their mom hitched a ride down Mt Blue Sky in a car engine back in June with an unsuspecting family. She had her pups in their Lafayette garage. A few days later she was unfortunately hit by a car. pic.twitter.com/RpF2uCXHvk
— CPW NE Region (@CPW_NE) October 2, 2024