Vancouver Island marmot

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Vancouver Island Marmot
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Marmota
Subgenus: Petromarmota
Species: M. vancouverensis
Binomial name
Marmota vancouverensis
(Swarth, 1911)

The Vancouver Island marmot (Marmota vancouverensis) is found only in the high mountainous regions of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada, and in captive breeding centres across Canada because of its endangered status. The species can be distinguished from other marmots by its rich, chocolate brown fur and contrasting white patches. It also differs from other marmot species in genetics, behaviour and ecology. The marmot is very large compared to other rodents, in fact it is the largest animal in the squirrel family, with weight varying from 3 to 7 kg. Each foot has five digits with one claw extending from each one, with each claw having a slight curve to it, and on the bottom of each foot are a set of five or six pads. The body of the marmot is covered with thick hair, and the tail is fluffy and about one fifth the total length of its body. The Vancouver Island marmot has both a short head and short legs. The marmot has a cheek pouch, but it is not used for anything because it lacks retractor muscles.

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[edit] Habitat and behaviour

Individuals live in small colonies in subalpine meadows on steep, avalanche-prone slopes, preferring those with a southern exposure. It usually hibernates 8 months out of the year. Vancouver Island marmots tend to dig their burrows in meadows with elevations anywhere from 3,600 to 6,000 feet. These burrows can go on for a long time, and somewhere along it there will be a "look out". These look outs are usually in areas with an abundance of rocks or boulders. A lot of the activity that the marmot does atop the ground, eating or observing, is done close to the burrow in case they need to escape a predator. When they see a predator they will let out a high whistle which allows other marmots to know when danger is near. Vancouver Island marmots are more active in the morning and evening, spending most of the rest of the day underground, except from mid-September until April or May, when they spend most of their time underground hibernating. During hibernation the marmot's heart only beats three of four times per minute as compared to 110 to over 200 beats per minute in the active season. These marmots are highly social and they live in colonies of one or more family groups. Along with the whistle they make when predators are near, they communicate with each other by making a "kee-aw" sound.

[edit] Feeding and diet

This animal is a herbivore, eating berries, flowers, leaves, roots and bark. Marmot's diets vary with the seasons, because as the seasons change so does the food available. When available they mostly eat forbs and grasses. Some specific types being lupine, aster, peauine, meadowrue, cow-parnish, and paintbrush. Occasionally they will eat different types of berries and ferns.

[edit] Reproduction

Often, two-year-old marmots move to different mountains to find mates. Mating occurs in early spring (usually May), within a few weeks after hibernation. Females bear 1 to 6 young after roughly a 30 day gestation period. The female doesn't start giving birth until she is three or four years old typically. This gives the marmot a successful amount of time to develop properly. Although these female marmots are capable of reproducing every year, they usually only do every other year or more. Little is known about the young because they spend their first month of life underground in the burrows appearing above ground in late June or early July.

[edit] Conservation status

The endangered Vancouver Island marmot is one of the world's rarest mammals. In 1997 there were a small number of marmots on Vancouver Island, so scientists captured some to breed at the Calgary Zoo, Toronto Zoo and Mountainview Conservation and Breeding Centre in Langley, BC. This way the young would be able to grow up in a safe environment without predators. In 1998 a new model for species recovery was born involving the government, private industry and public donors. A census in 2003 revealed an estimate of only 21 wild marmots on Vancouver Island. After these findings, marmots were released from captivity in different places to try and get the population back up to a reasonable number.

The reason for the reduction of the marmot population is unknown. It may have been caused by a gradual reduction of alpine habitat, changes in climate and landscape, but most recent studies have shown the main cause to be predation. Its predators include the Golden Eagle, the Cougar and the Grey Wolf.

These marmots are still classified as endangered species. The captive-breeding program, including the Tony Barrett Mount Washington Marmot Recovery Centre, has steadily grown with 162 individuals in captivity and 60 pups born in 2007 alone. A number of individuals have been released to Strathcona Provincial Park, Mount Cain, Mount Washington and more southern mountains. Even more releases are expected in the upcoming years to increase the wild population, estimated at 90 individuals in 2007.

[edit] Related species

The closest relative of the Vancouver Island Marmot is the Hoary Marmot, Marmota caligata. They are also closely related to the Olympic Marmot. Vancouver Island Marmots are distinguished from other marmots by their behaviour, genetics, ecology and unique appearance. They have-dark brown to nearly black fur, white markings on their faces, chest, and body.

[edit] Popular culture

Because of their endangered status, Vancouver Island Marmots have become a conservation symbol in British Columbia. Mukmuk, the "sidekick" to the three official mascots for the 2010 Winter Olympics, is portrayed as a member of the species.

[edit] References

  • Champan, Joseph A., and George A. Feldhamer, eds. Wild Mammals of North America. The John Hopkins UP, 1982.
  • Michael, Huchins, ed. "Vancouver Island Marmot." Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopidia. 16 vols. Gale, 2004.
  • Nagorsen (2000). Marmota vancouverensis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is endangered and the criteria used
  • Thorington, R. W. Jr. and R. S. Hoffman. 2005. Family Sciuridae. Pp. 754-818 in Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder eds. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.
  • Wilson, Don E., and Sue Ruff, eds. The Smithsonian Book of North American Mammals. Washington: Smithsonian Institution, 1999.
  • "Vancouver Island Marmot." World Book Encyclopedia. 13th ed. Chicago: World Book Incorporated, 2006.

[edit] External links