The Vancouver Island Marmot

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Name: _________________ Date: ____________ The Vancouver Island Marmot One of the rarest animals on Earth is a Canadian creature that makes its home underground in British Columbia. This creature is called the Vancouver Island Marmot and lives only in the high mountains of Vancouver Island, British Columbia and nowhere else in the world. At last count, there were only a hundred Vancouver Island Marmots left. It is in danger of extinction! Marmots are rodent members of the squirrel family. In Canada, there are three other marmot species; the woodchuck, the yellow-bellied marmot, and hoary marmot. You can easily recognize the Vancouver Island Marmot by its chocolate brown fur and white patches. They even have a unique call. A grown marmot is about the size of a small dog or large housecat. Marmots are known for building huge maze-like underground tunnels. During the winter, marmots hibernate, while in the summer they munch on flowers and grasses. The Vancouver Island Marmots are endangered because in the last few decades, clear-cut logging has taken away their home. However, there is a plan to help save the Vancouver Island Marmot. Scientists are catching the Vancouver Island Marmot and breeding them in safe surroundings. The scientists hope to release 400-600 marmots back into their natural habitat. The scientists also plan to continue monitoring and researching the Vancouver Island Marmot population. In 2010, with the Olympics in Vancouver, there were three official Olympic mascots. As time progressed, a fourth character appeared and became quite popular. “Mukmuk,” that fourth character, was a Vancouver Island Marmot. With the popularity of the Olympics many children have come to know Mukmuk and have learned about the struggles of the Vancouver Island Marmot. 1. Where is the only place on Earth where you can find a Vancouver Island Marmot? 2. About how many of this type of marmot are left in the wild? 3. How can you tell a Vancouver Island marmot from other marmots? 4. Why are these marmots endangered? 5. What are some different ways that marmots use soil in their lives? 6. Why do you think it is a good idea to make Mukmuk a character for people to learn about? .

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Vancouver Island Marmot
Vancouver Island Marmot Restricted to the mountains of Vancouver Island, this endangered species is one of the rarest animals in North America. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks move between colonies can have a profound one basket” situation puts the Vancouver impact on the entire population. Island Marmot at considerable risk of Vancouver Island Marmots have disap- extinction. peared from about two-thirds of their his- Why are Vancouver Island torical natural range within the past several What is their status? Marmots at risk? decades and their numbers have declined by urveys of known and potential colony he Vancouver Island Marmot exists about 70 percent in the last 10 years. The sites from 1982 through 1986 resulted in nowhere in the world except Vancouver 1998 population consisted of fewer than 100 counts of up to 235 marmots. Counts Island.Low numbers and extremely local- individuals, making this one of the rarest Srepeated from 1994 through 1998 turned Tized distribution put them at risk. Human mammals in North America. Most of the up only 71 to 103 animals in exactly the same activities, bad weather, predators, disease or current population is concentrated on fewer areas. At least 12 colony extinctions have sheer bad luck could drive this unique animal than a dozen mountains in a small area of occurred since the 1980s. Only two new to extinction in the blink of an eye. about 150 square kilometres on southern colonies were identified during the 1990s. For thousands of years, Vancouver Island Vancouver Island. Estimating marmot numbers is an Marmots have been restricted to small Causes of marmot disappearances imprecise science since counts undoubtedly patches of suitable subalpine meadow from northern Vancouver Island remain underestimate true abundance.
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Indicators of Individual and Population Health in the Vancouver Island
INDICATORS OF INDIVIDUAL AND POPULATION HEALTH IN THE VANCOUVER ISLAND MARMOT (MARMOTA VANCOUVERENSIS) BY MALCOLM LEE MCADIE D.V.M., Western College of Veterinary Medicine, 1987 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Thompson Rivers University Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada November 2018 Thesis examining committee: Karl Larsen (PhD), Thesis Supervisor, Natural Resource Sciences, Thompson Rivers University Craig Stephen (DVM, PhD), Thesis Supervisor, Executive Director, Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Cooperative David Hill (PhD), Committee Member, Faculty of Arts, Thompson Rivers University Todd Shury (DVM, PhD), External Examiner, Wildlife Health Specialist, Parks Canada ii Thesis Supervisors: Dr. Karl Larsen and Dr. Craig Stephen ABSTRACT The Vancouver Island Marmot (Marmota vancouverensis) is an endangered rodent endemic to the mountains of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Following population declines in the 1980s and 1990s, an intensive captive breeding and reintroduction program was initiated involving three Canadian zoos and a purpose-built, subalpine facility on Vancouver Island. From 1997 to 2017, 660 marmots were associated with the captive program, including 63 wild-born individuals captured for breeding and 597 marmots born and weaned in captivity. Reintroductions began in 2003 and by 2017 a total of 501 marmots had been released. Although this significantly increased the wild population from its low point in 2003, conservation
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VANCOUVER ISLAND MARMOT Marmota Vancouverensis Original1 Prepared by Andrew A
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Annual Report 2020
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The Case of the Missing Marmots: Are Metapopulation Dynamics Or Range-Wide Declines Responsible?
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Vancouver Island Marmot Population and Habitat Viability Assessment Workshop Final Report
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(Marmota Vancouverensis) Captive-Breeding Program
History and Current Status of the Vancouver Island Marmot (Marmota vancouverensis) Captive-breeding Program MALCOLM McADIE Marmot Recovery Foundation, c/o 5206 Burnham Crescent, Nanaimo, BC, V9T 2H9, Canada, email [email protected] Abstract: During the mid-1980s, the Vancouver Island marmot’s (Marmota vancouverensis) population was estimated at 300–350 individuals and was considered to be stable or increasing; however, beginning in the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s, Vancouver Island marmot numbers demonstrated significant declines, and it became apparent that recovery efforts involving only field manipulation of the wild population would likely not prevent the extinction of this species. The National Recovery Plan for the Vancouver Island Marmot 2000 update (Janz et al. 2000) stated that “few animals exist for reintroductions or other management activities” and that “It is unlikely that wild populations will suddenly rebound of their own accord. Captive breeding and reintroduction present the only chance of increasing populations within a reasonable period of time and minimizing the risk of extinction.” In response to these concerns, the Vancouver Island Marmot Recovery Team initiated a rigorous program of captive breeding to (1) serve as a genetic lifeboat to safeguard Vancouver Island marmots against catastrophic events in the wild, (2) determine appropriate management and husbandry guidelines for the successful captive maintenance and propagation of Vancouver Island marmots, (3) conduct directed research, and (4) provide sufficient numbers of individuals for release and eventual restoration of the wild population. Since its inception in 1997, this program has come to include the participation of three Canadian zoological institutions, the Toronto Zoo, the Calgary Zoo, and the Mountain View Conservation and Breeding Society, and a dedicated marmot facility on Vancouver Island.
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Recovery Strategy for the Vancouver Island Marmot (Marmota Vancouverensis) in British Columbia
British Columbia Recovery Strategy Series Recovery Strategy for the Vancouver Island Marmot (Marmota vancouverensis) in British Columbia Prepared by the Vancouver Island Marmot Recovery Team November 2008 DRAFT About the British Columbia Recovery Strategy Series This series presents the recovery strategies that are prepared as advice to the Province of British Columbia on the general strategic approach required to recover species at risk. The Province prepares recovery strategies to meet its commitments to recover species at risk under the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk in Canada, and the Canada – British Columbia Agreement on Species at Risk. What is recovery? Species at risk recovery is the process by which the decline of an endangered, threatened or extirpated species is arrested or reversed, and threats are removed or reduced to improve the likelihood of a species’ persistence in the wild. What is a recovery strategy? A recovery strategy represents the best available scientific knowledge on what is required to achieve recovery of a species or ecosystem. A recovery strategy outlines what is and what is not known about a species or ecosystem; identifies threats to the species or ecosystem, and what should be done to mitigate those threats. Recovery strategies set recovery goals and objectives, and recommend approaches to recover the species or ecosystem. Recovery strategies are usually prepared by a recovery team with members from agencies responsible for the management of the species or ecosystem, experts from other agencies, universities, conservation groups, aboriginal groups, and stakeholder groups as appropriate. What’s next? In most cases, one or more action plan(s) will be developed to define and guide implementation of the recovery strategy.
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Understanding Barriers to the Recovery of a Critically Endangered Species
Cortisol and conservation: Understanding barriers to the recovery of a critically endangered species using stress physiology by Madison Jennifer Acker A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (MSc) in Biology The Faculty of Graduate Studies Laurentian University Sudbury, Ontario, Canada © Madison J Acker, 2018 THESIS DEFENCE COMMITTEE/COMITÉ DE SOUTENANCE DE THÈSE Laurentian Université/Université Laurentienne Faculty of Graduate Studies/Faculté des études supérieures Title of Thesis Titre de la thèse Cortisol and conservation: Understanding barriers to the recovery of a critically endangered species using stress physiology Name of Candidate Nom du candidat Acker, Madison Jennifer Degree Diplôme Master of Science Department/Program Date of Defence Département/Programme Biology Date de la soutenance November 22, 2017 APPROVED/APPROUVÉ Thesis Examiners/Examinateurs de thèse: Dr. Albrecht Schulte-Hostedde (Co-Supervisor/Co-Directeur de thèse) Dr. Gabriela Mastromonaco (Co-Supervisor/Co-directrice de thèse) Dr. Mery Martinez (Committee member/Membre du comité) Approved for the Faculty of Graduate Studies Approuvé pour la Faculté des études supérieures Dr. David Lesbarrères Monsieur David Lesbarrères Dr. Fran Bonier Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies (External Examiner/Examinateur externe) Doyen, Faculté des études supérieures ACCESSIBILITY CLAUSE AND PERMISSION TO USE I, Madison Jennifer Acker, hereby grant to Laurentian University and/or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or for the duration of my copyright ownership. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report.
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Vancouver Island Marmot Calls Home
MARMOT MAYHEM! INTERCONNECTED ECOSYSTEMS Here are some things that are important in the environment that the Vancouver Island marmot calls home. Can you find all these words? Alpine Cougar Hibernation Whistle The mountainous area A predator of the To pass through a cold Marmots use a variety of period in a state of inactivity, above the treeline marmot whistles to communicate similar to a very deep sleep with each other Burrow Eagle Marmot Wildflowers A hole dug for shelter A predator of the The largest member of A favourite food of the marmot the squirrel family marmot such as lupines and paintbrush (prairie fire) Colonies Grasses Metapopulation Wolf Groups of individuals that Vegetation that A group of populations that A predator of the are partially organized into a marmots feed upon are separated geographically marmot community but consist of the same species VANCOUVER PROTECT the ISLAND MARMOT subalpine meadows red paintbrush arctic lupine Colour in the poster and add a marmot fact here! VANCOUVER PROTECT the ISLAND MARMOT subalpine meadows red paintbrush arctic lupine Draw your own marmot in its habitat and add a marmot fact here! VANCOUVER ISLAND MARMOT FACT SHEET Use these fun facts on your poster to help people learn about the Vancouver Island marmot! Copy your favourite ones onto your poster or cut them out and stick them on! A number of First Nations recall the importance of marmot fur and meat in their cultural traditions. Some Marmots spend over half carried out annual marmot hunts. In the traditonal ‘Namgis territory, there is Papikatan (translating to “Place of the year hibernating underground of Marmot”) near present day Schoen Lake Provincial in burrows.
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Vancouver Island Marmot Marmota Vancouverensis
COSEWIC Assessment and Update Status Report on the Vancouver Island Marmot Marmota vancouverensis in Canada ENDANGERED 2008 COSEWIC status reports are working documents used in assigning the status of wildlife species suspected of being at risk. This report may be cited as follows: COSEWIC. 2008. COSEWIC assessment and update status report on the Vancouver Island marmot Marmota vancouverensis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. vii + 29 pp. (www.sarareregistry.gc.ca/status/status_e.cfm). Previous reports: COSEWIC. 2000. COSEWIC assessment and update status report on the Vancouver Island marmot Marmota vancouverensis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. vi + 29 pp. Bryant, A.A. 1997. Update COSEWIC status report on the Vancouver Island marmot Marmota vancouverensis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. 1-25 pp. Munro, W.T. 1978. COSEWIC status report on the Vancouver Island marmot Marmota vancouverensis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. 12 pp. Production note: COSEWIC would like to acknowledge Andrew A. Bryant for writing the update status report on the Vancouver Island marmot, Marmota vancouverensis prepared under contract with Environment Canada. This report was overseen and edited by Marco Festa-Bianchet, Co-chair of the COSEWIC Terrestrial Mammals Specialist Subcommittee. For additional copies contact: COSEWIC Secretariat c/o Canadian Wildlife Service Environment Canada Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3 Tel.: 819-953-3215 Fax: 819-994-3684 E-mail: COSEWIC/[email protected] http://www.cosewic.gc.ca Également disponible en français sous le titre Ếvaluation et Rapport de situation du COSEPAC sur la marmotte de l’île de Vancouver (Marmota vancouverensis) au Canada – Mise à jour.
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Northwestwildlife.Com Species Reports
A publication by: NORTHWEST WILDLIFE PRESERVATION SOCIETY Vancouver Island Marmot Marmota vancouverensis By Sydny De Silva Pretend for a moment that you live in a small town of less than 100 people. That is about a quarter the size of an average elementary school, where everybody knows everybody. Now imagine that was the entire population of human beings in existence in the entire world. That’s a pretty scary thought. Well, that’s exactly what is happening to one of the world’s most endangered animals, the Vancouver Island marmot. In fact, these cuddly little animals, who are the largest member of the squirrel family, have had a population count as low as 30 in the past. One of fourteen marmot species, the Vancouver Island marmot has been listed as endangered since 1978. Fortunately there have been some steps taken to protect this endangered species. Characteristics Out of a burrow in the ground a rodent about the size of a housecat, 5-7kg (12-14 lbs), pokes her head. She sniffs the air with large nostrils that are part of her black flattened nose and blunt snout. She can be identified as a Vancouver Island marmot specifically because of her deliciously rich chocolate brown coloring with contrasting white patches. This is one of the distinguishing characteristics of Vancouver Island marmots from the rest of the marmot families. Her little round ears twitch this way and that. Don’t be fooled by their size; these ears are extremely sensitive. Her eyes are small and allow for only monocular vision (vision relating to one eye).
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