Male Yellow-bellied Marmot in March – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 320, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
It is Wednesday February 2nd or 2/2/2022 which also means it is Groundhog Day in North America. What does that really mean though? It means a couple of Groundhogs (Marmota monax) in the eastern part of the country will be brought out of their burrows to see if their shadow can be seen which is supposed to determine how many more weeks of winter there will be.
This tradition is derived from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and sees its shadow due to clear weather, it will retreat to its den, and winter will go on for six more weeks; if it does not see its shadow because of cloudiness, spring will arrive early.
But what is early? One or two weeks early?
Spring will arrive when it gets here and we’ll know it when the grass greens up, the days are warmer and longer, and when the birds start their migrations.
Adult female Yellow-bellied Marmot in April – Nikon D500, f9, 1/800, ISO 320, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Out here in the western part of the country we don’t have Groundhogs. We do have their cousin the Yellow-bellied Marmot (Marmota flaviventris) and they have been coming out of their burrows earlier and earlier each year. I spotted my first Yellow-bellied Marmot on the 15th of January this year. In years past I started finding them above ground in March.
This morning there is a light dusting of fresh snow on the ground here and I should be excited about that. It should be more than a dusting though. We aren’t getting the snow here in the valley or in our mountains that we used to get. Last month we should have gotten a bit over 11 inches of snow in the valley and all that we got was a little over an inch. Where I live it was less than an inch.
Utah is a desert state that depends on snowpack in the mountains to fill our reservoirs. December looked good for snowpack because we got one great snowstorm. January not so much.
Salt Lake City February forecast 2022
The forecast for the first half of February down here in the valley looks abysmal for snow.
Park City February forecast 2022
And it isn’t looking good for Park City which is high in the Wasatch Mountains either.
While I know that most people are hoping that the groundhogs back east don’t see their shadow in the hopes that spring will arrive early I’m sitting here in Utah hoping that winter snows will arrive with some kind of regularity. Or that we get slammed with several or even a dozen huge snowstorms before spring arrives.
I know that there isn’t enough snow in our mountains to fill our already low or depleted reservoirs. That we need more snow to fill our rivers which we need to bring the level up of the Great Salt Lake up from the historic low it hit last year.
It can be depressing to think about how dry it has been here in northern Utah. I know that it has affected the birds and has affected their food sources. I saw that last year every single time I went out into the field
The thought of another early and dry spring isn’t comforting but even worse is the thought of another super dry summer which is scarier yet for the birds, the animals and us.
Groundhog Day is simply another day where I grow even more concerned about life giving water here in Utah. I’m not superstitious. I rely on facts. The fact is that without ample snowfall here in the next couple of weeks we are in trouble. A paddle will be worthless because the creeks will have run dry before summer arrives.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Yellow-bellied Marmot photos plus facts and information about this species.
Great photographs, of course, but a bittersweet narrative. It is so easy to take our individual situations for granted. In Florida, we simply EXPECT the rains to occur. I know nature has its cycles and pray they continue.
Here is hoping for a couple of massive snowstorms for you in the coming weeks!
Water is precious. After some drought (and disaster plagued) years we have finally had enough rain. Some would say too much. Not me.
I so hope that you DO get snow. Lots of lifegiving snow.
The drought is scary. I agree. But while we’re still on the subject of depressing. Have you seen what is being done on Promontory road? Any idea what that stupid electric fence is going to protect? Not critters or birds, for sure.
Suzanne, I emailed you about what is going on on Promontory Road.
Yes, we always need more snow and rain here. Spring is my favorite time of year and I dislike the darkness of winter. Just saw “Phil” predict six more weeks of winter and “Chuck” an early spring. Fun and Science each have a place. Thanks for the info on Marmots, I always look for them at Salt Creek. Great photos.