Some behavior that looks like marmots fighting is a form of play known as “play fighting.” However, not every conflict between marmots is play. Standing up and pushing each other, or appearing in a short video, is not enough to settle the question. What happens before and after the interaction matters too.
What is play fighting?
Play fighting is play that involves movements also seen in conflicts, such as pushing, chasing, and wrestling. The University of Michigan’s Animal Diversity Web describes play fighting in its account of the Himalayan marmot.[1]
Vigorous movements do not necessarily mean an attack. Play and aggression can overlap: research on yellow-bellied marmots records standing on the hindlegs and using the forepaws in both contexts. Looking like wrestling is therefore not enough to identify play.[2]
Why do marmots play fight?
One study of yellow-bellied marmots found an association between ranks calculated from the outcomes of early play and dominance relationships based on later aggressive interactions. The researchers suggest that play may help establish later social relationships at relatively little cost.[3]
This does not mean that establishing rank is the only purpose of play. Nor does it show that the same findings apply unchanged to Himalayan marmots, which are a different species. When learning about marmot behavior, it helps to consider which species was observed and in what environment.
Three things to look for when watching a video
These clues draw on research in yellow-bellied marmots. They help us watch carefully; they are not a universal checklist for every species or individual.[2]
1. Do the animals switch roles?
During play, roles and actions may change repeatedly. Look beyond a single push and notice how both animals participate throughout the interaction.
2. Are there pauses or moments spent looking around?
Play may include pauses and looking around. Notice the interaction’s rhythm and interruptions, as well as how forceful the movements appear.
3. What happens when the interaction ends?
Marmots tended to sit near each other after play and separate quickly after aggression. But one moment of proximity cannot establish “friendship.” Watch the whole sequence, including before and afterward.
Calls and apparent “peacemaking” also need context
A marmot making a sound is not necessarily expressing anger. Yellow-bellied marmots are also known to give alarm calls in response to predators and other alarming situations. Sounds need to be considered together with the other animals present and the surrounding circumstances.[4]
A video of a smaller marmot moving between two others may look to us like an attempt to stop a fight. That moment alone, however, does not establish an intention to intervene or a parent–offspring relationship. We can enjoy an endearing impression while keeping it separate from what the observation actually confirms.
Notice the quiet moments as well
Marmots are interesting beyond their most striking movements. Time spent resting and the distances they keep from companions can also help us learn about an individual. Avoid provoking behavior for a photograph or video, and let the animals set the pace.
For ideas on observing marmots during a visit, see the guide to marmot fighting and play fighting from Mamomura, a facility advised by Dr. Marmot.
Related reading
References
- Animal Diversity Web: Marmota himalayana (Himalayan marmot species account)
- Williams et al. (2023). Agonistic and affiliative social relationships are associated with marmot docility but not boldness (Table A1: behavioral classification for yellow-bellied marmots)
- Blumstein et al. (2013). Early play may predict later dominance relationships in yellow-bellied marmots (early play and later dominance relationships)
- UCLA: Yellow-bellied Marmot Alarm Calling Factsheet (alarm calls in yellow-bellied marmots)
