Fecal pellet counts as a technique for monitoring an alpine-dwelling social rodent, the hoary marmot (Marmota caligata)

We evaluated fecal pellet counts as an index of hoary marmot (Marmota caligata) social\ud group size in order to develop a simple, inexpensive method for monitoring population\ud change of a widely distributed, but poorly studied alpine mammal. Fecal pellet counts were\ud conducted in three separate seasons along several 2 m 3 100 m transects located parallel\ud to and 10, 20, and 30 m from the edge of alpine boulderfields (talus) occupied by marmots.\ud Marmot activity and location relative to talus was also determined to assess the proportion\ud of time spent foraging as a function of distance from refuge. Marmots spent 74% of their\ud activities in meadows at a mean distance of 11.6 m from talus, and activity in meadows\ud declined with increasing distance from talus, as did fecal pellet counts. Fecal counts at\ud 10 m from the edge of talus were strongly and linearly related (r2 ?? 0.89) to marmot\ud abundance. The functional equation of marmot abundance predicted marmot abundance in\ud five independent social groups within 17% of the observed group size. Fecal pellet counts\ud appear to provide a precise index of marmot group size suitable for long-term monitoring\ud of population change