Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Where are the marmots this year?

I've been climbing the Sierra's three times in last few months and haven't seen any marmots. This seems odd. Normally we run into the hungry little critters at all of our high elevation campsites.

Scientifically, three marmot-free trips doesn't mean much.

Has anybody else noted a change in the marmot population?

Saw tons of them in the Horseshoe Meadow/Cottonwood Lakes area, plenty down by Rock Creek.

Haven't seen the Summit Marmot this year, but I haven't been up there that much this year.

I saw tons of marmots running around Trail Camp on Sunday. I even witnessed a group of marmots dragging away someone's backpack and then fighting over it. As I approached the JMT junction where numerous backpacks were parked, a marmot was dragging a pack and about to take it over the ledge. I got there just in time and pulled it back to a more secure location. Hopefully, the marmot didn't get it when I continued up the trail. I also saw the Summit Marmot under a rock near the Whitney plaque feasting on a rather large slice of pizza or crepe. I named him Harvey.

I did a dayhike last Saturday to Franklin Lake out of Mineral King, and saw a large number of marmots over the entire route.

Boy to girl: A VERY small bear just ran off with my pack!

Where have all the marmots gone, long time passing?

Where have all the marmots gone, long time ago?