Marmot Recovery Foundation
@marmotrecovery.bsky.social
The Vancouver Island marmot is one of the rarest mammals on the planet. Our mission is to save the wild population from extinction. Your support makes it possible for us to save this species!
A Marmot’s Guide to Yawning. Your yawn should start at the hind end, traveling up to your head and culminating in a dramatic silent scream. Complete with lip smacking to communicate how deeply satisfying this was. Strike a dramatic pose while receiving yawning admiration from onlookers.
November 6, 2025 at 6:27 PM
A Marmot’s Guide to Yawning. Your yawn should start at the hind end, traveling up to your head and culminating in a dramatic silent scream. Complete with lip smacking to communicate how deeply satisfying this was. Strike a dramatic pose while receiving yawning admiration from onlookers.
Earth Rangers have a great new video about Vancouver Island Marmots for conservation-minded kids! youtu.be/ConFxUNyPF8?...
Fewer Than 30 Wild Marmots Left Until Heroes Arrived | Earth Rangers
YouTube video by Earth Rangers
youtu.be
November 2, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Earth Rangers have a great new video about Vancouver Island Marmots for conservation-minded kids! youtu.be/ConFxUNyPF8?...
“Booo!”? Vancouver Island marmots have a unique vocalization we call a “keaw.” It appears to be a special call between parents and their young. Here, a yearling is calling, and likely that’s one of its parents we see at the edge of the frame.
October 31, 2025 at 8:41 PM
“Booo!”? Vancouver Island marmots have a unique vocalization we call a “keaw.” It appears to be a special call between parents and their young. Here, a yearling is calling, and likely that’s one of its parents we see at the edge of the frame.
Soren is demonstrating one of the final steps for Vancouver Island marmots as they prepare for hibernation where they seal off the entrance to their burrow with a mix of mud and grass. Often they will have two “plugs,” one near the surface, and second deeper into the burrow.
October 30, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Soren is demonstrating one of the final steps for Vancouver Island marmots as they prepare for hibernation where they seal off the entrance to their burrow with a mix of mud and grass. Often they will have two “plugs,” one near the surface, and second deeper into the burrow.
Sometimes you yawn so big it worries the kids.
October 23, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Sometimes you yawn so big it worries the kids.
Play time is learning time! These year-old marmots are learning social skills they will need as adults to be part of a successful colony. Wrestling can be a pair bonding or a territorial activity. Sometime the difference is knowing how hard to bite.
October 22, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Play time is learning time! These year-old marmots are learning social skills they will need as adults to be part of a successful colony. Wrestling can be a pair bonding or a territorial activity. Sometime the difference is knowing how hard to bite.
For marmots, autumn is the start of hibernation, but for us it is restoration season! In northern parts of the marmots’ range most are already underground for the winter. Which is when we come to do some house cleaning; restoring the marmots’ meadows to maintain habitat these animals rely on.
October 17, 2025 at 7:07 PM
For marmots, autumn is the start of hibernation, but for us it is restoration season! In northern parts of the marmots’ range most are already underground for the winter. Which is when we come to do some house cleaning; restoring the marmots’ meadows to maintain habitat these animals rely on.
Normally I post about the marmots, but this time I’d like to take a moment and some photos of the people who do the on-the-ground recovery work to recover this species. We work where the marmots live: remote, high elevation. Photo Heather Heim
October 3, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Normally I post about the marmots, but this time I’d like to take a moment and some photos of the people who do the on-the-ground recovery work to recover this species. We work where the marmots live: remote, high elevation. Photo Heather Heim
RIP Dr. Jane Goodall. Her work and spirit inspired many of us to get involved in - and continue with - conservation. She often used the Vancouver Island marmots as example of what conservation can accomplish. May we all find hope in resiliency.
thetyee.ca/Culture/2018...
thetyee.ca/Culture/2018...
Jane Goodall Isn’t Giving Up | The Tyee
Faced with mass species die-offs and presidential horrors, the dazzling doctor still finds hope in resiliency. A Tyee interview.
thetyee.ca
October 1, 2025 at 7:49 PM
RIP Dr. Jane Goodall. Her work and spirit inspired many of us to get involved in - and continue with - conservation. She often used the Vancouver Island marmots as example of what conservation can accomplish. May we all find hope in resiliency.
thetyee.ca/Culture/2018...
thetyee.ca/Culture/2018...
Congrats to "Chunk" for wining Fat Bear Week! The question is can he go up against fat marmot “Gob” who is also prepping for hibernation?!?
Yeah, he probably can. In fact, on second thought, we should walk this back … forget we said anything.
Yeah, he probably can. In fact, on second thought, we should walk this back … forget we said anything.
October 1, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Congrats to "Chunk" for wining Fat Bear Week! The question is can he go up against fat marmot “Gob” who is also prepping for hibernation?!?
Yeah, he probably can. In fact, on second thought, we should walk this back … forget we said anything.
Yeah, he probably can. In fact, on second thought, we should walk this back … forget we said anything.
WARNING: Guard Marmot on Duty
September 22, 2025 at 4:30 PM
WARNING: Guard Marmot on Duty
Thank you to Mount Washington and everyone who came out yesterday for Plaid at the Peak to support Vancouver Island marmot recovery efforts!
Gob kept a careful eye on all the visitors to make sure they behaved!
Photo taken by Adam Taylor during the Plaid at the Peak event.
Gob kept a careful eye on all the visitors to make sure they behaved!
Photo taken by Adam Taylor during the Plaid at the Peak event.
September 21, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Thank you to Mount Washington and everyone who came out yesterday for Plaid at the Peak to support Vancouver Island marmot recovery efforts!
Gob kept a careful eye on all the visitors to make sure they behaved!
Photo taken by Adam Taylor during the Plaid at the Peak event.
Gob kept a careful eye on all the visitors to make sure they behaved!
Photo taken by Adam Taylor during the Plaid at the Peak event.
New life goal: to be blepped by the world’s rarest mammals. First up – the Vancouver Island marmot. A photo essay.
September 15, 2025 at 7:04 PM
New life goal: to be blepped by the world’s rarest mammals. First up – the Vancouver Island marmot. A photo essay.
“The name is Bond. James Bond.”
“Hello Mr. Bond. I’ll just look you up in the database…”
“You don’t need to do that, just…”
“It says here your name is ‘Shimmer’?”
“I TOLD YOU NOT TO LOOK!”
“Hello Mr. Bond. I’ll just look you up in the database…”
“You don’t need to do that, just…”
“It says here your name is ‘Shimmer’?”
“I TOLD YOU NOT TO LOOK!”
September 11, 2025 at 6:23 PM
“The name is Bond. James Bond.”
“Hello Mr. Bond. I’ll just look you up in the database…”
“You don’t need to do that, just…”
“It says here your name is ‘Shimmer’?”
“I TOLD YOU NOT TO LOOK!”
“Hello Mr. Bond. I’ll just look you up in the database…”
“You don’t need to do that, just…”
“It says here your name is ‘Shimmer’?”
“I TOLD YOU NOT TO LOOK!”
The "feeder" is actually playground equipment. Don't know how we missed that!
September 5, 2025 at 7:49 PM
The "feeder" is actually playground equipment. Don't know how we missed that!
We misunderstood the instructions and put the biscuits *inside* the feeder. Fortunately this marmot was willing to lend a paw and fix our mistake.
September 5, 2025 at 7:48 PM
We misunderstood the instructions and put the biscuits *inside* the feeder. Fortunately this marmot was willing to lend a paw and fix our mistake.
So far this summer, we’ve counted 68 pups, and we are still finding more! Last year, the Vancouver Island marmot set a new record with over 100 wild-born pups, and while we are unlikely to reach those numbers again this year, but we are happily surprised at the number of pups we have counted.
August 21, 2025 at 5:44 PM
So far this summer, we’ve counted 68 pups, and we are still finding more! Last year, the Vancouver Island marmot set a new record with over 100 wild-born pups, and while we are unlikely to reach those numbers again this year, but we are happily surprised at the number of pups we have counted.
Spot the marmot. It's easy to get distracted by the view but you have a job to do.
August 17, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Spot the marmot. It's easy to get distracted by the view but you have a job to do.
It is always incredible seeing wild-born pups! This is one of Esmeralda and Talamore’s four pups this summer. As critically endangered species, the Vancouver Island marmot population needs all the pups it can get.
August 13, 2025 at 8:19 PM
It is always incredible seeing wild-born pups! This is one of Esmeralda and Talamore’s four pups this summer. As critically endangered species, the Vancouver Island marmot population needs all the pups it can get.
We released the last marmots of the season today! Early this morning, 4 Vancouver Island marmots were released to two sites in Strathcona Provincial Park. We will follow up with them later this month and next.
August 12, 2025 at 10:52 PM
We released the last marmots of the season today! Early this morning, 4 Vancouver Island marmots were released to two sites in Strathcona Provincial Park. We will follow up with them later this month and next.
An evening pup says hello as we prepare at Mount Washington for another trip into the backcountry.
August 12, 2025 at 4:11 AM
An evening pup says hello as we prepare at Mount Washington for another trip into the backcountry.
We have been a little quiet on socials recently because we’ve been busy in the field these past few weeks! Here are a few photos of the marmot releases, new pups spotted in the wild, and incredible rugged habitat where our favorite marmots live!
Photos by Adam Taylor, Tyler Gill, and Heather Heim.
Photos by Adam Taylor, Tyler Gill, and Heather Heim.
August 8, 2025 at 8:25 PM
We have been a little quiet on socials recently because we’ve been busy in the field these past few weeks! Here are a few photos of the marmot releases, new pups spotted in the wild, and incredible rugged habitat where our favorite marmots live!
Photos by Adam Taylor, Tyler Gill, and Heather Heim.
Photos by Adam Taylor, Tyler Gill, and Heather Heim.
Spot the marmot.
Video by Shayn McAskin
Video by Shayn McAskin
August 1, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Spot the marmot.
Video by Shayn McAskin
Video by Shayn McAskin
Yes, it is too late to change your mind.
July 18, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Yes, it is too late to change your mind.