Etology and protection of marmot mountain (Marmota marmota) in selected territory of West Tatras | Etológia a ochrana svišťa vrchovského (Marmota marmota) na vybranom území Západných Tatier

There are own results from observations of the marmots (Marmota marmota) in this thesis, which was done trom 22.7.2009 to 4.10.2009 in Žiarske saddle, in the Western Tatras, where is a link between marmots trom Žiarska Valley (Malé Závraty) on the western side and Jamnicka Valley (Kokavské záhrady) on the eastern side of Žiarske saddle. Observations were divided into four different habitats, differentiated altitude and distance from the tourist trail, the hour of observation was between 11.00 to 14.00. No.1 unit- Suťovisko under Homolka: 1 790 m. n. m and distance from the tourist trail from 250 to 270 meters, ST2-South side between Homolka and the northern slope of Smrek: 1 810 m. n. m., ST3-Suťovisko under the ridge of Smrek: l 820 m. n. m, 380 to 420 meters trom the tourist trail, ST4-Colony under the trail to Žiarske saddle: 1870 m. n. m, 150 to 200 meters trom the tourist trail. ST1 was the most numerous unit, where juvenile marmots escape distance was 54 meters in diameter and subadult and adult ones were on average 63 meters. Unit with at least observed marmots was ST2: 9 subadult and adult and no juvenile. Minimum escape distance was at ST1, for example adult and subadult 3 meters and 5 meters juvenil. and the largest juvenile escape distance was at ST4: 200 m adult and subadult and 150 m juvenil. During field research, were also reported negative anthropogenic impact, for example. wild dogs released, bilberries, non-powered aircraft and also predators, ie golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) and black raven (Corvus corax). The last output to the marmots' habitat l made 4.0ctober 2009 when wasn't observed any marmot, but the dens weren't buried. From 12 October the snow fell down so the next observations with regards to winterize weren't possible. In the future I would recommend to the outcomes for the protection of the mountain marmot in the Western Tatras increasing numbers of guardians ofnature, which should regulate negative anthropogenic impact on the marmot colonies.