Marmots General
Marmots are a medium-sized burrowing rodent used by a variety of cultures for its fur and flesh [1-4]. Their importance depended on the season and availability of other resources. Marmots are also referred to as groundhogs and woodchucks [5-7]. The Bella Coola (Nuxalk) called marmot speek, while the Tlingit called them tsax [15, 36].
Late summer through autumn is often reported as the best time to obtain marmots, because they are very fat at this time of year [26-28]. Bella Coola had small groups of specialized hunters that trapped marmots [15]. Inuit women [29] and Carrier women [27] were responsible for catching marmots.
Marmots were captured with spring pole traps, deadfalls, snares, bows and arrows [13, 17, 30-34]. In addition, Shuswap villagers would simply run after and catch marmots [13]. The Tlingit dug marmots out of its burrow in the ground [3]. When marmot was abundant, the Carrier caught many [34].
Marmots were cleaned and skinned in the same way as other small animals [31]. It was cooked and eaten fresh, sometimes after singeing the fur off in the fire, dried or salted. The highly appreciated fat was reserved and stored. The Southern Yukon cultures did not eat knee cap bones or the palate of the mouth, believing this practice would precipitate rain [28].
The Northern Okanagan, Lakes and Colville cultures used marmot for its fur [35]. According to Oberg [36], only poor Tlingit people wore garments made from marmot skin. However, McClellan [28] wrote that the Inland and Coastal Tlingit wore marmot clothing with pride.
Woodchucks, also called groundhogs, were consumed by many cultures in eastern North America and parts of western North America, including Thompson (N'laka'pamux), Shuswap, Stalo, Gitksan (Gitxsan), Fort Nelson Slave (Dene), Tahltan, Tagish, Inland Tlingit, Kaska, Huron, Mistissini Cree, James Bay Cree, Fort George Cree, Iroquois and Montagnais-Naskapi (Innu) [7, 28, 38-50]. Woodchucks were also available to the Flathead, Kitsumkalum, Red Earth Cree and Micmac (Mi'kmaq) [51-54]. Evidence that woodchuck was used by the Onondaga Iroquois was found at the Furnace Brook and Cabin archeological sites [55].
Woodchucks were hunted by the Tahltan mostly in fall when they were the fattest, just before they hibernated. The Kaska caught them in summer for the same reason [50]. The Tahltan and Kaska caught woodchucks in large numbers to dry them for winter provisions. The fat was also reserved and stored in the animal’s stomach, skin or bladder [48, 50].
Men traditionally trapped woodchucks; however, in more recent times women also helped to set traps. Deadfalls were set with rocks or logs, which were triggered by the animal. Groundhog was also killed with rifles [28] and snares [6]. The Mistissini set traps at the entrance of woodchuck burrows so that they would get caught upon entering or leaving [56]. The Tagish moved inland in summer to hunt land animals, like woodchucks, in family groups [57]. Woodchuck was caught mostly by the Southern Okanagan of Washington boys and women, using bows and arrows or they were dug and dragged out of their holes using sharp sticks [58]. Kaska used falling rock snares and deadfalls to catch woodchucks [50].
Hoary marmot, also known as the whistler or whistling marmot, is reported to have been an important small animal hunted by the Lillooet [59], Tahltan [60] and Kotzebue Sound Inupiat [61]. The Sekani also consumed hoary marmots [11]. The Lillooet and Bella Coola (Nuxalk) are reported to have valued this animal for both its fur and meat [59, 62]. Hoary marmot remains found at archeological sites in Southeastern Alaska [63] and Admiralty Island [64] suggest the animal was used by prehistoric Alaskan and Tlingit cultures, respectively.
Tahltan trapped hoary marmot in autumn prior to hibernation when they were the fattest [60]. Hoary marmot was also known as the whistling marmot [60]; The Mid Columbia Indians did not hunt this marmot for fear that its whistle would give them Alpine Madness [12]. For Gitksan (Gitxsan), hoary marmot was a symbol in teaching stories [37].
Yellow-bellied marmot, also known as rockchucks, were caught by the Mid-Columbia Indians in great numbers in summer and fall and were reported to make a good mid-summer meal [12]. Yellow-bellied marmot was a symbol in Gitksan (Gitxsan) teaching stories [37].
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