The Vancouver Island marmot: status and management plan [La marmotte de l'île de Vancouver: état et plan de gestion].

Résumé

The Vancouver Island marmot (Marmota vancouverensis) is the rarest of all the North American species of marmot, it exists solely on Vancouver Island. In March 1980, it was officially designated an endangered species by Order in Council by the Province of British Columbia. Active management of the Vancover Island marmot has occurred only recently. Information on distribution, population trends, biology, and habitat requirements initiated in the 1970's is receiving greater attention in the 1980's. Surveys in recent years and observations of some of the well-known colonies indicate that the Vancouver Island marmot population has increased in both numbers and distribution since the early 1970s. The ultimate goal of the Vancouver Island marmot management plan is to establish and maintain the population of Vancouver Island marmots at a level and distribution that provides a reasonable likelihood of long-term survival of the species. Specific objectives of the management plan are: 1.to ensure that six distinct reproducing populations are in existence by 1985 and ten by 1990. 2.to secure habitat for key marmot colonies and prevent alienation and alteration of known marmot habitat, 3.to maintain one small captive breeding colony, 4.to encourage and support approved scientific research, and 5.to encourage public participation in various aspects of the program and to keep the public informed of progress. Implementation of the activities associated with each objective are detailed in the plan. The plan will be modified periodically in response to increasing knowledge, implementation progress, availability of funding, and management priorities.