“Overall, the first release went really well,” says Adam Taylor of the Marmot Recovery Foundation. “They seemed to really enjoy getting into a new habitat.”
The work to release 52 captive-bred Vancouver Island marmots into the wild will continue over the next several weeks.
Taylor said other marmot handlers will hike into remote regions to meet helicopters at designated sites near existing marmot colonies. The nesting boxes will be transferred to land and the aircraft will take off immediately to lessen disturbance.Taylor said some marmots may be relocated because their existing habitats or dens are not sustainable.
Taylor hopes the release of the captive-bred marmots will help the marmots recover, though challenges with food and predation have hurt the population.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Canucks select Tom Willander 11th overall at NHL draftVancouver Canucks take Swedish defenceman Tom Willander 11th overall
Read more »
52 endangered Vancouver Island marmots being released this summerThere were only 22 marmots left in 2003 but thanks to a successful breeding program at Mount Washington, there are now 200.
Read more »
New baby orca spotted with endangered pod off Vancouver Island | CBC NewsA baby orca has apparently been born to an endangered killer whale population in the Pacific Northwest, scientists reported.
Read more »
Vancouver Island Marmot Recovery Foundation marks 20-year milestoneOn the 20th anniversary of the first release of marmots into the wild, the Vancouver Island Marmot Recovery Foundation released four more of the large ground squirrels into the wilds of Mount Washington, west of Comox.
Read more »
14 endangered Vancouver Island marmots born at Wilder Institute14 Vancouver Island marmots were born at the Calgary\u002Dbased The Wilder Institute, boosting conservation efforts for the endangered species.
Read more »