Original Rowdy - Himalayan Marmot

Ladakh

These guys ! They surprised me more than anything else. I saw them in an open meadow filled with their burrows and man, these guys were wired. They're classified as ground dwelling squirrels. But trust me, there's nothing shy and skittish like a squirrel about these cat sized rodents. He will get in your face if you get close to his burrow and he WILL make you uncomfortable. Might be smol but, he's mighty.

I recon they don't have much reason to be shy where they live either. They live above 3000 meters and predators like the snow leopards and big old world birds are on the decline. They aren't facing a loss of habitat like their cousins, the Alpine Marmots who're killing each other over habitat and breeding rights over in Europe.

The main reason for their "cute" behavior, I think is that the Himalayan Marmot is just in a hurry, perpetually. I would be as well, if I had 5 months a year to do 12 months work. These guys burrow down and hibernate for 6 to 7 months a year. They're known as one of the true hibernators who can literally slow their heart beats and wean resources off life functions. They live in family units and numerous families make up a colony. I even heard mention of a kilometer long colony. The cutest thing they probably do is that they have these touch based salutations for each other. The most elaborate of which are probably reserved for the dominant couple.

So, when he wakes up, he's gotta eat, make babies, fatten everyone up, dig and clean out the burrow, keep an eye out for predators while doing it all and finally make sure everyone hunkers down again before winter. Oh ! and his family can get to about 30 heads strong. Yeah ! He's in a hurry.

Bro's just hustling hard for his family and way of life and if you get in the way, he will shove you off. He's not cute, he's rowdy cause he has to be. Winter is Coming.