Tag: Vancouver Island marmot

Marmots on Mt Washington

Going up was easy
– A. Bryant
Getting off was trickier…
– A. Bryant
Going down was tough on the knees!
– S. Kubany
The Grey Jays were ubiquitous – and knew we gonna stop for lunch somewhere!
– W. Kubany
The views were spectacular
– P. Karis
Andrew waxing poetic
– P. Karis

– S. Kubany
Indan paintbrush and Lake Helen Mackenzie
– W. Kubany
A niced Hooded Ladies Tresses (Spiranthes romanzoffiana )
– W. Kubany
The only squirrel of the day was at at Paradise Meadows
– A. Bryant

Marmots on Mt Washington
by Pat Karis 20 July 2019

On Saturday ten of  us caught the early ferry to Comox in search of Vancouver Island marmots (Marmota vancouverensis) on Mount Washington.

We rode the chair lift to the top of the mountain, where club members were treated to an informative talk on the marmot by Dr. Andrew Bryant, who wrote the first, 2nd and 3rd recovery plans for this endangered species while simultaneously spending two decades asking – and answering – scientific questions.  Starting with “where do they live and how many of them are there?

While Dr. Bryant spoke, the group was surrounded by assertive and inquisitive whiskeyjacks looking for a handout…
Later on, we traversed part way down the mountain, where we all enjoyed the spectacular scenery while having our lunch .. after our rest, Dr. Bryant, resumed his chats and discussions along the way, stopping periodically to look and listen for the elusive marmot…

Unfortunately, and much to our disappointment, no wild marmots were spotted, although there was evidence along the way, that there had been activity around their burrows.  It was a noisy day on the side of the mountain, with a lot of heavy machinery making its way up and down the mountain that day, probably spooking the marmots into a safer and quieter retreat.

A quick walk-by of the captive-breeding facility (which is not open to the public) eventually yielded a few marmots…but…according to Andrew: “these captive marmots are being well-managed…but if you ask me…nobody should see their first Vancouver Island marmot in a cage…and you’re standing way too close”.

By the time we reached the parking lot (it’s a 5 km walk and a 780 m descent), everyone agreed that they were much better informed of the plight of the Vancouver Island marmot, our information session today bringing new awareness to our already delicate ecosystem and what we need to do to bring it into balance.

Thank-you very much to Dr. Bryant for all of his insights and dedication over the years – a truly informative and enlightening outing.

Marmots at Mount Washington

A couple of things to remember…don’t jump… – A. Bryant
…and don’t look down – A. Bryant
Our gang after the final summit push – D. Bedry
Great views! – D. Bedry
Starting the walk down the service road – D. Bedry
Late summer wildflowers – this is all marmot food! – D. Bedry
Late summer – A. Bryant
We only saw one marmot – and he was a long ways away – it was, as always, really nice to see – A. Bryant
A few of us went wine-tasting, and a few made a 20 minute detour to Paradise Meadows instead – A. Bryant
It was a nice detour – A. Bryant
A really nice detour! – A. Bryant
Hmm…I suspect our paths will cross again…– A. Bryant

Marmots at Mount Washington 
by Lu Wuthrich, 13 August 2016.

On a sunny Saturday eleven of the Naturalists went up to Mount Washington for a second Marmot tour, led by Andrew Bryant.

We were on the chair lift early in the morning and had a sunny, clear day to view the wonderful vistas around the top of Mount Washington.   Andrew chose several areas to stop and give the group a comprehensive history of Marmots, their habitat and behaviors.  He also discussed the local ecosystems, clear cut logging and the history of the Marmot Breeding Program and building on Mount Washington.  We had one sighting of a large Marmot in a beautiful meadow; the alpine meadows were in their full glory.

The group left with a good understanding of Marmot ecology, predation and current issues.

Thanks to Andrew and the members that made this trip such a pleasant experience.

 

Andrew Bryant – “Recovery of Vancouver Island marmots”

This is “Mom #2”, the 2nd female I ever tagged, way back in 1988
Marmot habitat – This is the Haley Lake Ecological Reserve, which I visited on 217 days between 1987 and 2007.
Where they live, and used to live…
The landscape in 1956
…has changed a lot
Friar Tuck was a favorite of mine
Radio-telemetry, using surgically implanted transmitters, proved to be the key to unlocking the mystery
Ever notice how some researchers come to resemble their study organisms?
Wow we sure built a lot of logging roads!
Mother and daughter
A LOT of marmot food – Erythronium grandiflorum
Some people thought it would never work. I’m glad they were wrong.
This is Haida, the first captive-born animal to breed in the wild, in 2005. You go gal!
The road to recovery was a long one…
We have a long way to go. Sunset from Haley Ridge, 9 Sept 2005

Andrew Bryant – “Recovery of Vancouver Island marmots”
by Andrew Bryant, 19 Jan 2012.

I had the great good fortune to spend over twenty years working with what used to be the most critically endangered mammal in North America, the Vancouver Island marmot (Marmota vancouverensis).

Mine was a detective story, for that is what science is.  How do we know what we think we know?  The story of Vancouver Island marmots is one of blind alleys, mistakes, and plain bad luck.   The world population declined during  the 1990s to a few score remaining in the wild by 2003  (the estimate was ~30).   At the last hour, a recovery program based on captive-breeding and reintroduction began in 1997.

Slowly at first, but with growing momentum, a team of dedicated researchers, loggers, naturalists, veterinarians, housewives, architects, financial planners and schoolchildren began to raise the resources necessary to solve the problem.  The captive program was successful and reintroductions began in 2003.  A decade later the wild population has rebounded to over 300 individuals.

Although not out of the woods yet, the Vancouver Island marmot story is no longer one of impending doom.  Instead, these lovely animals offer a wonderful story of forensic science, and a compelling tale of hope.