Critically endangered Vancouver Island marmots released into the wild

Volunteers carried cages containing very rare furry creatures up Mount Washington on Monday as part of the mission to save Canada’s most endangered mammal.

Volunteers carried cages containing very rare furry creatures up Mount Washington on Monday as part of the mission to save Canada’s most endangered mammal.

Six Vancouver Island Marmots were released into the wild, the first of about 60 animals born in captivity that will join existing colonies this year.

Not long ago, the species was on the brink of extinction. The Vancouver Island Marmot Recovery Foundation began its effort to boost the population in 2003. That year, there were less than 30 marmots left in the wild.

Now, the foundation estimates there are about 300 currently waking up from hibernation. The 60 marmots soon to join them will give the population a pretty big boost—20 per cent.

“Still a critically endangered species but the recovery certainly seems to be going in the right direction right now,” said Adam Taylor, executive director of the foundation.

The Vancouver Island marmot is the only mammal species endemic to British Columbia, and one of only a handful of endemic mammals in Canada.

“If we don’t save the marmot nobody else is going to,” Taylor said. “It’s a special animal. This is our species. This is a uniquely Vancouver Island, uniquely British Columbia, uniquely Canadian animal.”