No one knows if a yellow-bellied marmot found running around Saanich had travelled here hoping to visit Vancouver Island cousins or was just looking for greener pastures.
But we do know that the discovery was unusual, since yellow-bellied marmots are not naturally found on Vancouver Island. To ensure he doesn’t end up in any territorial disputes with the native Vancouver Island marmot, he will be sent back to the mainland in a few days to be reunited with his own kind.
In the meantime, he is being shown Vancouver Island hospitality, with a stay at the B.C. SPCA Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre. Staff report that their guest is eating his share — and then some — of vegetables and other species-appropriate food.
Animal-behaviour experts at the centre suspect he hitched a ride under the hood of a vehicle for his trip.
Another stowaway made a brief appearance about two years ago, scurrying across a construction site on Yates Street, and was never captured, although Victoria Animal Control Services did manage to capture one in Vic West about 12 years ago.
The Empress Hotel has a marmot that has been living in a burrow in the rock landscaping on the north side of the hotel since 2008. Staff call him Roger and report that he has recently emerged from hibernation.
No word if Roger has extended an invite to our newest visitor to stop by for High Tea before his return to the wild.
