High in the alpine meadows of a European reserve, Greta the forest marmot was known for her bold and curious nature. While most marmots avoided humans, Greta seemed to enjoy their company. One winter, Greta built her burrow unusually close to a ranger station, allowing researchers to observe her hibernation behavior in detail.
Thanks to Greta, researchers discovered new patterns in marmot hibernation, such as how temperature fluctuations impacted their sleep cycles. Her story shed light on the effects of climate change on alpine species and inspired initiatives to protect fragile mountain ecosystems.