Endangered Vancouver Island marmot loses its way, spotted on beach near Campbell River
Published 4:45 pm Monday, May 25, 2026
On Sunday, the Marmot Recovery Foundation put out an unusual request: help us find a lost marmot near the beach just south of Campbell River.
A wayward Vancouver Island marmot – an endangered species typically found in high-altitude alpine and sub-alpine meadows – had been spotted wandering Shelter Bay, well out of its native habitat.
“This is a wild-born, untagged Vancouver Island marmot, initially reported to us several days ago,” the conservation organization wrote on May 24. “We were able to locate it, but not successfully trap it. Yesterday, we were unable to locate it again.”
The foundation believes the animal is likely a two-year-old that left its natal colony and took a wrong turn. Staff set a trap near where it was last seen and hoped the public could help narrow things down.
They didn’t have to wait long. Within hours of posting the appeal on Facebook, residents spotted the marmot on the beach and sent photos and video to the foundation.
“It was fantastic, actually,” said Adam Taylor, executive director of the Marmot Recovery Foundation on Monday afternoon. “There was just no doubt – it was exactly the marmot we were looking for.”
It is only the second time the foundation has ever documented a Vancouver Island marmot on a beach at sea level.
“Honestly, it’s a little surprising they don’t get lost more often,” Taylor said. “Sometimes they just keep going in a direction where they’re never going to find another marmot. This marmot is literally on the beach — how weird is that for us? It’s never going to find another Vancouver Island marmot down there.”
When the species strays this far from their habitat, the foundation’s protocol is to capture and translocate the animal. Taylor says outcomes are generally good.
“The only other marmot we found on the beach – his name was Alan – we were able to trap and relocate, and it survived another six or seven years in the wild. That’s a long time for a marmot.”
Taylor is confident the foundation will capture this one, but in the meantime is asking people in the area to keep an eye out.
The search has also turned up an unexpected lead: a yellow-bellied marmot – a mainland species – has been spotted in the area. The foundation wants to relocate it back to the mainland, as it’s an invasive species on the island and could potentially spread diseases to the recovering Vancouver Island marmot population.
*The Marmot Recovery Foundation announced last night the marmot had been caught.