BC Conservation Data Centre: Conservation Status Report
Marmota vancouverensis
Vancouver Island Marmot
| Scientific Name: | Marmota vancouverensis |
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| English Name: | Vancouver Island Marmot |
| Provincial Status Summary | |
| Status: | S1 |
| Date Status Assigned: | June 30, 1998 |
| Date Last Reviewed: | February 15, 2015 |
| Reasons: | With a small declining population of less than 20 breeding age animals in the wild, a fragmented distributional pattern, and ongoing predation threats, this species is highly vulnerable to extinction. |
| Range | |
| Range Extent: | B = 100-250 square km |
| Range Extent Comments: | The Vancouver Island Marmot is endemic to Vancouver Island where it is restricted to a few locations in the southeastern part of the island. The extent of occurrence is ~840 sq. km if all 6 EO's are connected by a single polygon. However, given the isolation and highly disjuct nature of the Mount Washington colony, this EO should be treated separately. Calculating separate polygons that encompass the southern occurrences (160 sq. km) and the Mount Washington occurrences (~9 sq. km) would produce a total range extent of ~170 sq. km. |
| Area of Occupancy (km2): | AD = 1-25 |
| Area of Occupancy Comments: | The total area of occupancy is probably ~2-3 sq. km. |
| Occurrences & Population | |
| Number of Occurrences: | B = 6 - 20 |
| Comments: | A total of 6 element occurrences are known based on direct census data from 2004: Green Mountain, Haley Bowl, Heather Mountain, Mount Moriarity, Mount Washington, and Big Ugly (Bryant 2004; J. MacDermott, pers. comm.). One (Haley Bowl) is an extirpated historical colony that was established through a re-introduction in 2004. Some of the Mount Washington occurrences are separated by > 1 km but they should be treated as a single EO because marmots at this location have unusually large home range sizes with individuals moving > 1km (J. Werner, pers. comm.). |
| Number of Occurrences with Good Viability / Ecological Integrity: | A = None (zero) |
| Comments: | All 6 Eos are isolated with little connectivity. Only two EO's, Mount Washington and Haley Bowl have > 5 adult animals. |
| Number of Occurrences Appropriately Protected & Managed: | B = 1 - 3 |
| Comments: | The only protected EO is at the Haley Lake Ecological Reserve. |
| Population Size: | A = 1 - 50 individuals |
| Comments: | In 2004, 34 animals were counted in the wild. The total wild population in 2004 was certainly < 50 animals. |
| Threats (to population, occurrences, or area affected) | |
| Degree of Threat: | Substantial, imminent threat |
| Comments: | The greatest imminent threat is predation by mammalian carnivores such as Cougars and Grey Wolves and birds of prey particularly the Golden Eagle. With populations so low, each colony is vulnerable to extirpation from localized predation events. Predation has also been a major impediment to re-establishing historical colony sites with transplant animals from captivity. Other threats less immediate are: forest harvesting, Allee effects, inbreeding depression, disease, and future development at the Mount Washington ski resort. |
| Trend (in population, range, area occupied, and/or condition of occurrences) | |
| Short-Term Trend: | D = Decline of 50-70% |
| Comments: | The generation time is 5.7 years; therefore 3 generations is approx. 17 years (A. Bryant, pers. comm.). The population has declined from 105 animals in 1988 to 34 animals in 2004, a rate of decline of 67.6% over 17 years. Reasons for this decline are not clear but forest harvesting in forests adjacent to colonies may have created 'sinks' that reduced long distance dispersal among natural colonies (Bryant 1996; Bryant and Janz 1996; Bryant 1998). Vancouver Island Marmots first occupied recent clearcut habitats near historical subalpine colonies in 1981 (Bryant 1998). In 2000 (Janz et al. 2000) about 50% of the total population occurred in cleacuts. However, with succession these clearcut habitats become unsuitable for marmots. None of 34 Vancouver Island Marmots censused in 2004 were living in clearcut habitats. |
| Long-Term Trend: | U = Unknown |
| Comments: | Actual population counts began in 1972, and comprehensive surveys that covered all known colonies only began in 1979 (Bryant and Janz 1996). Population levels and the number of colonies before 1972 are unknown. Anecdotal data suggest that this species was more widespread in historical time but there are insufficient data to determine population numbers or trends before 1972. Prehistoric remains also suggest a larger range and possibly higher population numbers. Archaeological remains of 74 marmots dating from ~1,000 years ago for example were recovered in a single cave in Strathcona Provincial Park (Nagorsen and Keddie 1996). Reasons for the long term range collapse are unknown but environmental changes could be a factor. |
| Other Factors | |
| Intrinsic Vulnerability: | B=Moderately vulnerable |
| Comments: | In the wild, this species has a low reproductive rate. Age of females at first reproduction is 3-5 years and females rarely breed in subsequent years. |
| Environmental Specificity: | A=Very narrow. Specialist or community with key requirements scarce. |
| Comments: | A habitat specialist restricted to subalpine areas, suitable habitat for this species is scarce and highly fragmented on Vancouver Island. |
| Other Rank Considerations: | This species was designated Endangered by COSEWIC in 1978 based on Bryant's update report (1997). Its status was re-examined and confirmed as endangered in 2000 (COSEWIC 2000) based on an addendum to the Bryant (1997) report. |
| Information Gaps | |
| Research Needs: | Extensive research has been done on this animal including 4 theses (Heard 1977; Milko 1984; Bryant 1990, 1998) and research is ongoing. The only area lacking research is the development of models to predict the possible impacts of global warming on Vancouver Island Marmot habitat. |
| Inventory Needs: | Continued inventory at each EO is essential to monitor the population status year-to-year and to evaluate the success of the reintroduction program. |
| Stewardship | |
| Protection: | Ongoing predator management is critical to protect the few remaining wild marmots and any captive marmots reintroduced to the wild. A predator management plan was developed by Page (2004) and a pilot project to assess predation was initiated in 2004 with no loss of animals from predators. |
| Management: | A SARA compliant recovery strategy and action plan is now being developed and presumably it will define management needs. The current recovery plan (Janz et al. 2000) is dated and its objectives need to be re-evaluated. Important management issues include predator control, a reintroduction strategy, and habitat modification such as tree removal. |
| Version | |
| Author: | Nagorsen, D. |
| Date: | February 28, 2005 |
| References | |
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Aaltonen, K., A. A. Bryant, J. A. Hostetler, and M. K. Oli. 2009. Reintroducing endangered Vancouver Island marmots: Survival and cause-specific mortality rates of captive-born versus wild-born individuals. Biological Conservation 142:2181?2190.
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B.C. Conservation Data Centre. BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer. B.C. Ministry of Environment Victoria, BC. Available: http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/.
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Brashares, J. S., J. R. Werner, and A. R. E. Sinclair. 2010. Social ?meltdown? in the demise of an island endemic: Allee effects and the Vancouver Island marmot. Journal of Animal Ecology 79:965?973.
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Bryant, A. 2003. The Vancouver Island Marmot pages, home of the Vancouver Island Marmot recovery project. Online. Available: http://www.marmots.org/
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Bryant, A. 2004. Summary of Vancouver Island marmot count data from 1972. Vancouver Island Marmot Foundation, Nanaimo, B.C. Unpubl. data. Updated to 2006.
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Bryant, A.A. 1990. Genetic variability and minimum viable populations in the Vancouver Island marmot. Minist. Environ. Design Thesis, Univ. Calgary, AB.
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Bryant, A.A. 1994. Notes on the Vancouver Island Marmot (Marmota vancouverensis). Unpubl. rep. Vancouver Island Marmot Recovery Team, Nanaimo, BC. 25pp.
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Bryant, A.A. 1996. Reproduction and persistence of Vancouver Island marmots (Marmota vancouverensis) in natural and logged habitats. Can. J. Zool. 74:678-687.
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Bryant, A.A. 1997. Updated status report for the Vancouver Island Marmot (Marmota vancouverensis) in Canada. Rep. submitted to Comm. on the Status of Endangered Wildl. in Canada (COSEWIC), Ottawa, ON. 21pp.
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Bryant, A.A. 1998. Metapopulation ecology of Vancouver Island Marmots (Marmota vancouverensis). PhD. Thesis, Univ. Victoria, Victoria. 125pp.
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Bryant, A.A. and R. E. Page. 2005. Timing and causes of mortality in the endangered Vancouver Island marmot (Marmota vancouverensis). Can. J. Zool. 82:674-682.
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Bryant, A.A., and D. Janz. 1996. Distribution and abundance of Vancouver Island marmots (Marmota vancouverensis). Can. J. Zool. 74:667-677.
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COSEWIC. 2000. COSEWIC Assessment and Update Status Report on the Vancouver Island Marmot Marmota vancouverensis in Canada. Comm. on the Status of Endangered Wildl. in Can. Ottawa. vi+25pp.
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COSEWIC. 2019j. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Vancouver Island Marmot Marmota vancouverensis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa.xii + 53 pp
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Delaronde, M. 1997. Vancouver Island marmot inventory summary, 1997. Rep. submitted to B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Nanaimo. 8pp.
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Gourlay, K, McAdie M. and Taylor A. (MMRF). 2022. Annual Report. Produced for: Province of British Columbia Ministry of Forests (MOF), Mosaic Forest Management, Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, the Forest Enhancement Society of BC, Peter Townsend Trust, Environment and Climate Canada, and the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program. 68p.
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Heard, D.C. 1977. The behavior of Vancouver Island marmots, Marmota vancouverensis. M.Sc. Thesis, Univ. B.C., Vancouver. 129pp.
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Janz, D.W. et al. 2000. National Recovery Plan for the Vancouver Island Marmot (Marmota vancouverensis) (2000 update). Recovery of Natl. Endangered Wildl. Comm. Rep. No. 19. Ottawa. 38pp.
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Janz, D.W., et al. 1998. Revised Recovery Plan for the Vancouver Island Marmot (1998). Submitted to RENEW (Recovery of Endangered Wildlife).
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Marmot Recovery Foundation. 2021. EXCEL spreadsheet of Vancouver Island Marmot annual colony count data 2007-2020. Marmot Recovery Foundation. Nanaimo, BC.
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Milko, R.J. 1984. Vegetation and foraging ecology of the Vancouver Island marmot (Marmota vancouverensis). M.Sc. Thesis, Univ. Victoria, Victoria, BC.
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Nagorsen, D. 1990. The mammals of British Columbia: a taxonomic catalogue. Mem. No. 4. Royal B.C. Mus., Victoria. 140pp.
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Nagorsen, D. 2016. Small Mammal Management and Conservation in British Columbia: Assessment of Knowledge Gaps and Research Needs. Wildlife Bulletin No. B-127, March 2016. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. Victoria, B.C.
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Nagorsen, D.W., G. Keddie, and T. Luszcz. 1996. Vancouver Island marmot bones from subalpine caves: archaeological and biological significance. B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Victoria, B.C. Parks Occas. Pap. No. 4. 56pp.
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Page, R. 2004. Protecting Vancouver Island Marmots after release. Actions for predator management. Draft rep., Prepared for the Vancouver Island Marmot Recovery Team. 9pp.
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Vancouver Island Marmot Recovery Team. 2017. Recovery plan for the Vancouver Island Marmot (Marmota vancouverensis) in British Columbia. Prepared for the B.C. Ministry of Environment, Victoria, BC. 41 pp.
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Please visit the website Conservation Status Ranks for information on how the CDC determines conservation status ranks. For global conservation status reports and ranks, please visit the NatureServe website http://www.natureserve.org/.
Suggested Citation:
B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2005. Conservation Status Report: Marmota vancouverensis. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed May 15, 2024).