Are these two alpine marmots waiting to hear news of spring from their distant American relative, the groundhog Punxsutawney Phil? Truth be told, here in the snowy Eastern Alps of Austria, most marmots will likely sleep through Groundhog Day, which is celebrated in the United States and Canada each year on February 2. Alpine marmots hibernate for up to nine months a year in underground burrows, relying on fat reserves to stay alive. During this time, their heart rate lowers to 5 beats per minute and they breathe just 1 to 3 times per minute. Sleep well, little friends.
Alpine marmots at Hohe Tauern National Park, Austria
More Desktop Wallpapers:
-
Frankenstein Friday
-
The most Instagrammable bird?
-
Twosday
-
Happy Astronomy Day!
-
A peek at an explosive peak
-
A Christmas market with a long history
-
Jackie Robinson Day
-
Sutherland Falls in Fiordland National Park
-
Take this for a spin...
-
European hedgehog in Sussex, England
-
A history of Vinland
-
Lace up your hiking boots for Mountain Day
-
Martin Luther King Day
-
All eyes on sustainability
-
Big Bend National Park turns 78
-
All is silent for Big Ben’s musical milestone
-
A notorious gunfight that was incorrectly named
-
Norway s Kjeragbolten boulder
-
Jamaica celebrates its independence
-
It’s showtime for a precious crop