Keep an eye out! Researchers from the University of Alaska Museum and multiple collaborating institutions are tracking hibernation timing in Hoary Marmots at sea level (“beach marmots”) and need help documenting earliest emergence dates. If you see a beach marmot anywhere in Alaska or northern British Columbia any time in March or the first two weeks of April, please email akmarmoteers@gmail.com with coordinates or a locality description. Photos are helpful – uploading those photo(s) to iNaturalist is even better. The earliest photo-documented sighting in or around Juneau is April 1st, and anyone who breaks that record will be recognized as “Marmoteer of the Year!”
