[Leica] IMG: Yellow-bellied Marmot

[tedgrant at shaw.ca (Ted Grant)]

Doug Herr offered:

Subject: IMG: Yellow-bellied Marmot

The Yellow-bellied Marmot (Marmota flaviventris), basically a large ground

squirrel, is a common sight in the western mountains, where it can be found

grazing on veggies, basking on rocks or logs, and when alarmed gives a

shrill whistle earning them the name "whistle pig".  Other North American

marmots include the Hoary Marmot of the northwest and Alaska, and the

Ground Hog in the eastern part of the continent.

 

http://www.wildlightphoto.com/mammals/rodents/ybma03.jpg<<<

 

Hi Doug,

Given when I was a young lad working on farms back in S/West Ontario Ground 
Hogs were the bad guys no matter how cute people may think they are.

Anytime I was this close to a Ground Hog it unfortunately got shot! 

And I don?t mean with a camera. 

The biggest problem was they?d dig holes all over the fields and grazing 
ground, then a horse would step in a hole and break a leg. Then the horse 
was shot! ? Better the ground hog than a horse was the philosophy! 

So the old farmer and his son always had a 22 handy when we were out working 
in the fields and if a ground hog put it?s head up it was lights out very 
quickly for the critter.

The 560 is a great lens for ?shooting? critters anytime. Obviously you make 
it work very well with the R8 and shoulder stock with a monopod. An 
interesting combination. 

Although I never used a monopod at anytime using either the 400 or 560 6.8  
as I used them with the electric micro switch in the pistol grip hooked into 
the motor drive. Great mobility.

However after switching to the R 280 2.8 and 400 2.8 and extenders, I now 
use the monopod all the time.

ted