Twelve facts about Vancouver Island marmot
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| Vancouver Island marmot |
- The Vancouver Island marmot naturally occurs only in the high mountains of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada.
- At present, there are only about 100 marmots surviving in the world.They are purely vegetarians and survive on grass, herbs and flowering plants. They are particularly very fond of peanut butter.
- The main predators of the Vancouver Island marmots are golden eagles, cougars and wolves.
- These mammals are also known as "whistle pigs", as they make a peculiar whistle-like sound when they are facing any kind of danger.
- Marmots as a group are the largest members of the squirrel family, with weights varying from 3 to 7 kg depending on the time of year
- September or early October. During this stage, its heart beats around 3 or 4 times per minute. On the other hand, in the active season, the heart beat ranges from 110 to more than 200 beats per minute.
- Age of Sexual Maturity: 4 years of age.
- On an average, Vancouver Island marmot (Marmota vancouverensis) hibernates for around 210 days of the year, starting from late
- The animal has strong arms, shoulders and legs. Its long claws help it to climb and move around steep, rocky regions and also help it dig burrows.
- Vancouver Island marmots live in underground burrows and use dry mosses and grasses as bedding.
- Rocks are essential for these unique mammals, as they help them to cool down when cold. They also help them warm up, if they have been baking in the sun. Besides, these rocks also help them watch out for predators, by providing them an elevated spot.
- As these animals are on the verge of getting extinct, scientists and wildlife activists are struggling to preserve this species and maintain a healthy population of about 400 to 600 Vancouver Island marmots in the wild.
