Gray Marmot

The gray marmot is a large, heavy-bodied ground squirrel with short powerful limbs, small rounded ears and a bushy tail. Its grizzled grey-brown coat is darkest over the crown and back, while the cheeks and underparts are usually paler. Like other marmots it has strong digging claws and an upright alarm posture. Coat shades vary geographically, so identification is strongest when build, head pattern and range are considered together. (Wikipedia, gray marmot account)

Gray marmots inhabit mountain grasslands and alpine meadows in Central Asia, including the Altai. Colonies occupy extensive burrow systems used for shelter, rearing young and winter hibernation. They emerge by day to graze on grasses, herbs and other vegetation, and sentinels give whistles when danger approaches. Much of the year is spent underground during the long cold season. The opened account supports occurrence in Mongolia but not a named Mongolian viewing site or country-specific breeding dates. (Wikipedia, gray marmot account)