Assessment of state of the steppe marmot colonies (<i>Marmota bobak</i> Müller, 1776) in the Isaklinsky District of the Samara Region

The article presents data on the study of the marmot bobak colony (Marmota bobak, Muller, 1776) conducted in publicly accessible territories during the spring of 2022–2024 in the Isaklinsky District of the Samara Region. The studied marmot colonies are located in the vicinity of the village of Verbovka, their coordinates were not previously noted by researchers, as well as Marmota bobak colonies near the villages of Smolkovo and Novaya Chesnokovka. The features of the burrow topography in these colonies is considered in the study. Most of the burrows are located on the hills of the western, southwestern, southeastern and southern exposures. The features of the location of family plots in these colonies of the steppe marmot and the likely ways of further distribution of individuals are studied. The level of anxiety of the steppe marmot in four colonies and their dependence on the presence of an asphalt road, a reservoir, traces of poaching and other traces of human activity were analyzed. The relationship between the behaviour of steppe marmots and the presence of cattle grazing in the immediate vicinity of colonies has been revealed. The average number of steppe marmot individuals in the studied colonies was calculated and compared with the regional coefficient established in 2009.