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Royston Elementary

The Vancouver Island Marmot

The Vancouver Island Marmot lives only on Vancouver Island. They live in burrows in Strathcona Park and some are on Mount Washington (a mountain close to Royston) usually in rocky alpine areas. Marmots enjoy lying in the sun with each other. Marmots are active by day. They can also climb trees and swim too. The name marmot means mountain mouse. There are only 150 left!! They stay in burrows until they are one month old. There could be 1 to 3 in a litter. They can live until they are 15 years old. Marmots are adults at 2 to 3 years of age. They were listed endangered in 1980. There are 14 other species of marmot in the world. There are three other species in Canada: wood-chuck, yellow-bellied marmot, and hoary marmot.

Vancouver Island Marmots have small rounded ears. Their fur is the colour of chocolate. The marmot weighs 2 - 9 kg (5 to 20 lbs). They have short legs and thick fur. The marmot looks like a chubby prairie dog. The marmot has a bushy tail, and clawed paws. Marmot's enemies include: mountain lions, eagles, bears, coyotes, dogs and wolves. Marmots survive mostly on plants. They live near rocks and meadows. There are only 150 marmots left on Vancouver Island!

Reasons Why Marmots are Endangered

Marmots are endangered for several reasons. One is because of logging practices. They clear out open spots and marmots like that but there is no food so they die. Another reason they die is they get shot by hunters in summer and, of course, eaten by their own predators.

Adopting A Marmot

Why adopt a marmot? Marmots have been endangered since 1980. They were almost extinct but are beginning to make a recovery thanks to the hard work of many. One thing that you can do to help is to adopt a marmot.

How to adopt a marmot? To adopt a marmot you need to contact the Vancouver Island Marmot Agency. Their address is 808 - 100 Park Royal, South West Vancouver, B.C. V7T 1A2, CANADA. If you want to adopt a marmot for one year it costs $100; if you want to adopt a marmot for 2 years it costs you $200. The rescue crew uses the money for equipment. For example it costs $900 an hour for helicopters, the transmitters cost $500 each, spotting scopes cost $300 each, veterinary supplies cost $300 a year. Scientists use peanut butter to catch them so they can tag them. Each and every penny spent helps the marmots. If you adopt a marmot you will get a free poster, a certificate, and a report. It will have what your marmot did this year, whether he/she bred or found a new mate or moved to a different mountain.

Our Adopted Marmot

Mrs. Bellah's Grade Three Class began studying endangered animals as part of a Science Unit. A guest speaker gave a presentation to the class on the Vancouver Island Marmot. She told the class about the Marmot Adoption Program. The students decided to adopt a marmot. With the help of another Grade Three class, they raised the necessary $100.00 adoption fee (the money goes toward scientific research and also helps pay costs in tagging and tracking the marmots). The class received an adoption certificate as well as a write up on their adopted marmot. Our adopted marmot was named "Bob Dole" (he was named by a visiting American Scientist who thought he shared some of Bob Dole's characteristics). His tag number is 9798 (#97 on the left ear and #98 on the right ear). This tag helps scientists identify him. He is now five years old. He lives at the Haley Lake Ecological Reserve, about 30 km southwest of Nanaimo. In 1996 (at three years still somewhat immature) he mated with 2 females and produced a total of 7 young! In 1997, he mated with another female, Hillary, producing four offspring. In the Spring of 1998 (April 22) he and Hillary were seen emerging from hibernation - his offspring, unfortunately, did not survive the winter. He and Hillary were last seen in late July, 1998. This last winter was particularly fierce with lots of snow and though he hasn't been seen yet, an emergency tunnel was seen in the snow where their burrow is. We hope that he has survived and will update you in the fall when we get our information.

MARMOTS!

Gentle creatures

Running, hiding, playing

Cute little fuzzy marmots

Endangered.

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Marmots are furry

They're gentle but endangered

They are very cute

Vancouver Island marmot COOKIES?

You bet! We thank Margaret McMillan from Maryland, USA, for sending this along, and you should see the cool marmot-shaped cookie cutter she sent in...