Once distributed in many sub-alpine territories throughout south-central Vancouver Island, the marmot is now restricted to a few select sites. Whales, bears, marmots, eagles, salmon, trout,… But I’m here to tell you that Vancouver Island is totally worth dedicating a week of vacation time, too. In 1998, there were only 75 to 100 Vancouver Island Marmots in the whole world!! And sometimes they will whistle about it. According to the Marmot Recovery Foundation, Chopper and Marlu … We have reviews of the best places to see in Vancouver Island. But think how much you can do with that much, I think its enough to probably take care of one Marmot for a month. And eat. During the five months they’re active, they pack on weight by eating grasses, sedges, and flowering plants, such as lupines and spreading phlox. Here is my list of the 26 species I ate while on the island. Females do not mate every single year, and therefore only raise about 11 pups in an entire lifetime. Like their close relatives, the Olympic and hoary marmots, Vancouver Island marmots have ascending , flat , and descending single note alarm calls. The population has grown from about 30 wild marmots … VI Marmots usually eat lupines and grass. Two captive Vancouver Island marmots predict 6 to 12 more weeks of winter. Vancouver Island marmots spend about seven months of the year underground and lose 30 to 50 percent of their body mass while they’re sleeping. The Vancouver Island Marmot Recovery Foundation: More Facts; Vancouver Island marmots are herbivores and require a good variety of plants to eat. Let's start with afternoon tea, which is a must-do, according to visitors and locals. RESOURCES CITED. However they sometimes on rare occasions eat insects. Vancouver Island has expirienced some of the largest urban growths in the last decade then ever before and marmot habitat has been virtualy destroyed. RELATIVES. Vancouver Island Range. However, many of the plants they eat are not available in fresh clear-cuts, and scientists believe this could be one of the reasons there is greater mortality in these areas. Vancouver Island marmots have a rich vocabulary of alarm calls and communicate in a sophisticated way. They eat many types of grasses, berries, lichens, mosses, roots, and flowers. And I break down how to spend your time there as well with this one week Vancouver Island itinerary. Yellow-bellied Marmot (Marmota flaviventris)Marmots are also known as a woodchuck, groundhog or "whistle pig" Species Code: MAFL Description: Marmots are large burrowing rodents, about the size of a housecat, found in the Northern Hemisphere. The Vancouver Island marmot is not a keystone species. The Vancouver Island Marmot is one of only five endangered species that can only be found in Canada! Vancouver Island Marmots have large, beaver-like incisors, sharp claws and very powerful shoulder and leg muscles. Things to Do in Vancouver Island, British Columbia: See Tripadvisor's 581,039 traveler reviews and photos of Vancouver Island tourist attractions. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions. What do they eat? Marmots are more likely to be seen in Each was a blessing, but I ate 25 other species as well. Vancouver Island also has its own skiing destination: Mount Washington Alpine Resort. ... Victoria and Vancouver Island are a foodie's paradise. Vancouver Island Marmots are specialized feeders, selecting particular patches of vegetation and kinds of plants, while avoiding others that are abundant. This is about half of the population in 1984! Marmots eat mostly vegetation and sniff it out with their noses. Since there are only 100 Marmots left and 75 are already taken care of quite well. The Vancouver Island marmot has been in recovery mode since almost going extinct in the early 2000s. Yellow-bellied Marmots are mammals with grizzled brownish fur, a yellow belly, and whitish spot between eyes. The Vancouver Island marmot, Canada’s most endangered mammal, is only found in the wild on Vancouver Island mountains. There are so many things to do on Vancouver Island: you can go hiking in the beautiful forests and mountains, there are rugged beaches, lovely little villages and amazing wildlife (both on land as well as in the water). The Vancouver Island Marmot is endemic to Vancouver Island, and one of the most endangered mammals in the world. [13] Marmots hibernate for various amounts of time depending upon site characteristics and annual weather conditions. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in February. And eat. We are one of fourteen marmot species. 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