Despite enduring a harsh climate, challenging conditions and changing habitat due the impacts of human activity, the marmots represent a potential good news story that illustrates the possibility of bringing a species back from the brink of extinction. Through a captive breeding and release program in conjunction with the Toronto and Calgary zoos, habitat restoration and monitoring activities, the foundation and its partners have seen the Vancouver Island marmot repopulate areas where it was completely extirpated. Endangered Vancouver Island marmots are making a comeback The Vancouver Island Marmot Recovery Foundation – Recovering the critically endangered Vancouver Island Marmot Vancouver Island marmot - Wikipedia
It's wonderful that the Vancouver Island marmot population has increased from 30 in 2003 to about 200 in 2020. Among the many threats they face, not mentioned in the article above, are wildfires. An early August wildfire this year on Green Mountain, south of Nanaimo, was a big concern for the marmot colony there. 200 animals is definitely an encouraging number but there's still a long way to go before they are secure. Nanaimo-area wildfire is potential threat to Island marmots
