Mountain wildlife
Here, voles, shrews and mice find shelter in winter by burrowing under the snow. Also present are the pretty ermine (which moults to white in winter), the graceful squirrel, the fox, the hare (variable or not) and the badger.
The Badger
Badgers are nocturnal and crepuscular if not disturbed. Very cautious, it leaves its burrow before dark between May and August.
It is not uncommon to see them crossing roads in the Queyras at night.
Un blaireau
La Marmotte
Dame marmotte. On voit beaucoup de ses congénères à Saint-Véran sur le sentier qui conduit à la mine de cuivre
Every visitor's little favorite, so let's give her a special place!
In summer, marmots are easy to spot and see. At the approach of a danger or a walker, the marmot lets out a shrill cry. This cry will be different depending on whether it's an intruder or a predator.
The marmot is a mammal that lives in family colonies of around 15 individuals. They dig networks of galleries and chambers in pastures, and only emerge to feed. Burrow exits and other eminences serve as observation posts for predators - mainly birds of prey and foxes. When the lookout spots one, its alarm call alerts the other members of the group, who immediately dive into the burrow.
The marmot hibernates for almost six months, spending most of the summer until early October accumulating fat reserves. During this period, they can double their weight to 8 kg.
