Marmots are a member of the rodent family and as you can see from the picture, they look similar to a beaver. They have thick fur much like the beaver but lack the big flat and highly aquatic nature of their northern cousin. In the Bishop Creek Canyon these furry animals are about the size of a common house cat or small dog and most often sighted near rock piles. The most frequent sightings are along the shores of South Lake or near the Bishop Pass Trailhead. In the spring these animals are often sighted in pairs, quite a sight.

Marmot at South Lake 2007

 

Black Bear at South Lake

Black Bear Fishing at South Lake 2006

One of the most misunderstood animals in the Canyon is the Black Bear. Bears forage on anything from berries to fish and even other animals under certain conditions. They are generally very shy around humans but are often seen in the late summer and early fall along the shores of South Lake. Encounters with humans over the years have left some bears with a taste for trash, an unhealthy and unfortunate behavior for these amazing animals. Never try to feed or approach a bear in the wild, for their safety and yours. Visit the following link for some interesting and important information about bear biology, what to do if you encounter a bear and how to keep them wild.

SierraWildBear.Ggv

A host of chipmunks, squirrels and chickarees inhabit Sierra forests and little guys like the one pictured on the right are a very common sight. These animals are very curious and not terribly intimidated by us. Even though they look cuddly, it's best to enjoy these critters from afar and avoid feeding them.

Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrel