The yellow-bellied marmot lives in rocky areas at elevations up to 11,000 feet. It is found in the Rocky Mountains from Colorado to British Columbia as well as in northeastern California. Depending on the circumstances, the yellow-bellied marmot lives in a den, a crevice, a rock shelter or under a rock pile. When disturbed, it tries to reach the safety of its home from which it chirps and whistles at the intruder. When sitting upright, their attractive yellowish bellies are shown to best advantage. For a painter, this marmot is more appealing than its less colorful cousin the hoary marmot. The fun part of this painting is the marmot's face, which has a typical rodent expression. - CB