Squirrels of the World

Marmota vancouverensis 289

distribution: This species is only found on Vancouver Is-
land (British Columbia, Canada).

geographic variation: None.

conservation: IUCN status—critically endangered. Popu-
lation trend—decreasing. There are fewer than 100 individu-
als persisting in the wild. A captive breeding program has
been initiated.

habitat: M. vancouverensis is most commonly found in
open alpine meadows, avalanche bowls, or clearcuts, at el-
evations of 1000–1500 m.

natural history: This species is diurnal. M. vancouve-
rensis hibernates through the long winters, which last up
to eight months, in family groups within burrows. Litter
size ranges from three to fi ve young; females often pro-
duce l it ters in consecut ive yea rs, but t hey ca n a lso skip one
or two years. They live in restricted family groups that in-

clude an adult male, one to three adult females, yearlings,

and a single litter produced by one of the female group

members. Two-year-olds disperse from their natal area.

This species’ daily activity is bimodal, with the animals

foraging in open habitats for grasses, forbs, succulent

fruits, and fern fronds. The vocal repertoire of Vancouver

Island marmots is rich; it consists of a variety of descend-

ing, ascending, and fl at single-note calls that increase in

length with the level of alarm. Trills are given when these

marmots are highly alarmed. A fi fth call type, a “kee-aw,”

seems to maintain vigilance levels among other M. vancou-

verensis. Predation levels are high and may be responsible

for this species’ decline in recent years. Golden Eagles (Aq-

uila chrysaetos), wolves (Canis lupus), and mountain lions

(Puma concolor) are the most signifi cant predators of Van-

couver Island marmots.

general references: Aaltonen et al. 2009; Bryant 2005;

Nagorsen 1987.

Marmota vancouverensis. Photo courtesy Oli Gardner, www

.marmots.org.