Head to the top of almost every mountain in Colorado and there’s a good chance you’ll encounter a marmot. These heavy set animals are the largest of the Colorado ground squirrels and are closely related to ground hogs, but they’re frequently found hanging out high in alpine meadows or in lower foothills.
Marmots typically don’t cause problems, staying away from people and pets as much as possible. However if you happen to park your car in the right area, there is a chance they’ll find their way into the vehicle body and make a snack out of some wiring or radiator hoses. These incidents are common in areas like Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks in California, where their websites feature detailed explanations on how to protect your vehicle, but it does occur in Colorado from time to time.
The Broomfield Police Department of Broomfield, Colorado, shared images of a marmot that managed to climb into the frame of a truck in Lake City, where it stayed for for hundreds of miles before finally being found (Broomfield is just north of Denver, over 250 miles away from Lake City).
Animal Services Officers were able to remove the marmot from the truck with a catch pole after a few hours of work. The animal was transported to the Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center where he’ll be assessed before returning home. Fortunately he seems to be physically alright, though he’ll certainly have the story of a lifetime for his buddies in Lake City.
