Posted: June 25th, 2009 - 8:05am by Doug Powell

Diners at a restaurant in Prosser, Wash., were startled Monday when a furry marmot wandered through the front door and settled into a corner.

City Administrator Charlie Bush told the Tri-City Herald the big rodents have long been a problem in the central Washington wine town, adding,

"I know there's a lot of marmots in Prosser, there's no question. They're happy marmots. They're fat, they're having a good time."

Bush said several people in the restaurant helped build a makeshift tunnel out of advertising signs, and with some gentle prodding, the animal "just took off like a shot."