Sometimes its the smaller animals that are harder to photograph. I’d seen dozens of these Hoary Marmots on my adventures in Wrangell-St. Elias before I ever managed a photo of one.

This particular Marmot was living in Chitistone Pass, and we’d set up camp not far from the rock pile he seemed to have made his home in. Most of the marmots I’ve seen up there are not very approachable, but this guy would come by camp without hardly giving us a second look. Of course we’d sit still and quiet so not to disturb him, but I think sometimes some individuals are just more tolerant and less easily scared than others. I figure those individuals, of any species, sadly are probably the first ones to get eaten by something bigger and hungrier.