CR

Vancouver Island Marmot

Marmota vancouverensis

Declining

Overview

The Vancouver Island marmot is a species of marmot endemic to Vancouver Island, in British Columbia.

The Vancouver Island marmot faces severe threats from habitat fragmentation caused by logging activities that have reduced and isolated suitable alpine meadow habitat. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the delicate alpine ecosystem conditions these marmots require for hibernation and foraging. Predation pressure from wolves, cougars, and golden eagles has intensified as marmot populations have declined to critically low levels, making recovery more difficult.

Threat summary

Habitat

Vancouver Island marmots inhabit subalpine and alpine meadows at elevations between 1,000-1,500 meters, typically in areas with deep soils suitable for extensive burrow systems. They prefer south-facing slopes with abundant herbaceous vegetation and scattered trees that provide lookout posts and escape cover.

Forest· majorGrassland· majorCaves and subterranean habitats· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies managementSpecies recoveryEx-situ conservationLegislation

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Vancouver Island Marmot classified as Critically Endangered?
Vancouver Island Marmot is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Vancouver Island marmot faces severe threats from habitat fragmentation caused by logging activities that have reduced and isolated suitable alpine meadow habitat. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the delicate alpine ecosystem conditions these marmots require for hibernation and foraging. Predation pressure from wolves, cougars, and golden eagles has intensified as marmot populations have declined to critically low levels, making recovery more difficult.
Where does Vancouver Island Marmot live?
Vancouver Island Marmot occurs in Canada. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Vancouver Island Marmot?
The main threats to Vancouver Island Marmot are 11.1, 5.1, 5.3, and 8.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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