Animals of Tyrol: Marmots, Ibex, and the Wild Side of the Alps

Spend enough time in Tyrol’s mountains, and you’ll begin to notice you’re not alone. Wildlife here is rich and varied, from the tiniest alpine flowers buzzing with insects to the proud silhouettes of golden eagles circling overhead.

The most famous alpine resident might be the marmot (Murmeltier). These plump, furry ground squirrels live in burrows high above the treeline, spending the short summer fattening up before a long winter hibernation. You’ll often hear them before you see them — a sharp whistle to warn their colony of danger.

Higher still, the ibex (Steinbock) rules the cliffs. These wild goats, with their enormous curved horns, were once hunted almost to extinction but have made a strong comeback. They move across sheer rock faces with impossible grace.

Chamois (Gams) are shyer, preferring forest edges and steep pastures. Red deer roam the lower valleys, particularly in autumn during the rut, when their echoing calls can be heard at dawn and dusk.

Birdlife is equally rich: golden eagles, bearded vultures, and alpine choughs with their yellow bills. And if you’re lucky, you might spot a ptarmigan, perfectly camouflaged in its white winter plumage.

For many Tyroleans, these animals are more than just wildlife — they’re neighbours in the shared alpine ecosystem.

Here's a picture I took of a marmot in the wild near Zurs