The post Meet Dumpling, the Marmot Who Loves a Good Soak appeared first on A-Z Animals.
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Have you ever seen marmots take a bath? This is an admittedly unusual sight, but thanks to the magic of the internet, you can see one take a nice, warm bath. However, this does beg the question: Do marmots bathe — and should they? Join me on a little journey to find out whether this is typical behavior for marmots.
Is This a Pet Marmot?
This is indeed a pet Himalayan marmot. Dumpling is a textbook example of a male Himalayan marmot, from the coloration down to his overall size. Dumpling seems to be well cared for and has grown to expect bathing with some regularity. Whether or not this is something he would’ve gotten up to in the wild remains to be seen.
Do Marmots Bathe?
They do regularly groom themselves, but that is more akin to how other wild animals might do so. A baby bath with a hose is an uncommon sight in the Tibetan plateau, at least as far as wild marmots go. However, they do clean themselves regularly and take care to make sure their fur is in good condition. This means smoothing out mattes, removing tangles, and so forth.
Can You Give a Marmot a Bath?
These animals do regularly groom themselves, as a daily ritual of sorts.
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As Dumpling demonstrates, you can easily bathe one of these creatures. This little guy seems more than content with the water rushing over his fur and relaxing. I imagine a cup of tea, a nice book, and an aromatherapy candle would elevate his general mood and vibe.
Marmot Grooming Behaviors
Grooming for these animals is done in the same way as cats or other animals. They spend time licking their fur, using their forelegs to smooth out spots, and so forth. After grooming daily, which is an observed marmot behavior, they’ll often venture out to find a nice warm rock to take in the sun. Sunbathing seems to be a common occurrence for most species of marmot.
Do Marmots Like Water?
Sure, but perhaps in the same way that most wild animals do. Water is a necessity for survival for most animals in the wild, rather than a source of recreation and relaxation. Dumpling is the exception to the rule rather than the norm. However, they’d likely not shirk away from taking a nice mouthful of cool water after spending most of the day foraging.
Conclusion
It is quite an unusual sight to see a marmot taking a bath. However, there is something to learn from Dumpling. Maybe we should all take a little more time to focus on the mundane and enjoy a nice bath without distractions. It isn’t shown in the video, but a nice snack afterward is a welcome reward for any bathing marmot.
The post Meet Dumpling, the Marmot Who Loves a Good Soak appeared first on A-Z Animals.