Infanticide among golden marmots (Marmota caudata aurea)

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Abstract
Fifty-percent (36/72) of golden marmot (Marmota caudata aurea) pups that emerged above ground their first summer in Dhee Sar, Khunjerab National Park, Pakistan, died before their first hibernation. At least 22% (8/36) of this mortality was attributed to infanticide by new adult male group members. Carcasses were not cannibalized, thus infanticide probably was not a form of resource exploitation. Adult females who lost their entire litters to presumed infanticide were not more likely to breed in subsequent years; an observation inconsistent with infanticide being a form of sexual selection. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that males may kill unrelated pups to avoid providing care to unrelated young even though killed pups include potential future mates.