Can't shoot me!!

[H4831]

Just buzz off, you guys. I'll have you know I live in the province of British Columbia,and I am protected. This is my little patch of alpine, so just be gone.

 

[H4831]

I honestly didn't notice, until after I had posted the picture, that he appears to be looking for Mamma!!

 

[hawkeye01]

Just buzz off, you guys. I'll have you know I live in the province of British Columbia,and I am protected. This is my little patch of alpine, so just be gone.

only on crown land..

but on private land we get shot a lot

 

[smak_daddy]

Just buzz off, you guys. I'll have you know I live in the province of British Columbia,and I am protected. This is my little patch of alpine, so just be gone.

Protected? wtf? Its a gopher.

 

[H4831]

hawkeye01, at one time we used to go up on the Adams plateau, as well as the mountains around Queest and shoot them. I used a 270!
Actually, I was glad to see them get protection, because the shooting was really cutting them down, and a mountain with Richardsons groundsquirrels is more interesting than a mountain without them.
I would like to ask the fellows that go into the high mountains if they see many hoary marmots, better known as whistlers, now. These are the largest of the marmots and can go to thirty inches, or more, long. My observations are that the numbers of whistlers is drastically down, to what it once was. I just love to be on a mountain where they are quite thick. Top a rise and a whistler yells his warning. Another hears it and repeats the warning, until soon the sound of the whistles is actually fading into the distance. Just because you came in sight over a ridge! Nature at its best.

 

[Scott_N]

H4831, is that not a Columbian Ground Squirrel rather than a Richardson's Ground Squirrel?

 

[pharaoh2]

I would like to ask the fellows that go into the high mountains if they see many hoary marmots, better known as whistlers, now.

I saw one in the timber that ran into a hollow log and hid when we came around the corner. We left him alone and didn't bother him, I think their kind of cool.

 

[Norton]

H4831, is that not a Columbian Ground Squirrel rather than a Richardson's Ground Squirrel?

That is a columbian ground squirrel.

In Alberta we have Richardson’s Ground Squirrel, Columbian Ground Squirrel, Thirteen‑lined Ground Squirrel, Franklin’s Ground Squirrel and Golden‑mantled Ground Squirrel all of which are non-licence animals and can be whacked.

 

[Noel]

H4831, somewhere I have a few great pictures of a big Hoary Marmot. They seem to be down in number since I was first taken Sheep hunting. I don't get up to the areas we saw then in anymore.

 

[H4831]

Thanks for correcting me on Columbia ground squirrel. Just got mixed up on which was which.
It would sure be a shame if the hoary marmots die off, or at least get to insignificant numbers. I would be interested in hearing more from present day mountain travellers, as to how many they see.

 

[Scott_N]

Columbian.... Richardson..... both flavors make good moving targets!

 

[rgv]

I have not noticed a decline in the whistler poulation in the stewart to telegraph creek areas. the alpine is still full of them.

What would cause them to decline, the wolf and bear poulation growing?

there is certainly no real habitat encroachment up there, at least not on a broad scale.

 

[Norton]

It would be a terrible shame if yellow bellied and hoary marmots disappeared. I’m not familiar with BC regulations, but in Alberta marmots are protected. Which is a darn good thing. Personally, I would never harm a marmot or any of our ground squirrels except for Richardson’s (gophers).

 

[H4831]

All marmots are protected in BC. As to why they may be declining, in at least some areas, it's hard to know. Grizzly bears dig them out. I have been told that once a grizzly starts digging out a den, he never stops until he gets the marmot(s). I have seen slopes just pockmarked with the great excavations that grizzlies make gong after them, so this must have some effect. And grizzlies are certainly increasing in BC.
I once came over a ridge above timberline, just in time to see a wolverine carrying off a whistler. I would also think that eagles must like them, and eagles also, are increasing in much of BC, at least.
All in all, maybe predation is quite a factor.

 

[pitdogboy]

Private land= dead

 

[Wildfoot]

here is a couple hoary marmot photos..
taken up one of the valleys around Mt. Robson.

 

[Camp Cook]

Their mostly protected now due to people like me I learnt how to shoot fast and accurately while shooting thousands of the Columbia ground squirrels and hundreds of yellow bellied marmots.

Never shot a hoary marmot though and yes I am still seeing them around.

 

[Adanac00]

Can some one tell me were i can get a refrence to the Diffrent Marmots in BC
I live in Chilliwack but spend alot of time in the Okanagan and my Grandparents Ranch has alot of marmots but i dont know the Breed!

and as you all know i cant get pics untill the summer so i am just trying to learn befor the come out!

I do find this post interesting!

Adanac00

 

[Camp Cook]

I believe there are 3 subspecies of marmots in BC...

Hoary marmot in the pics above
Vancouve Island marmot
and the most common the yellow bellied

The ones that you are seeing on the side of the road in the Okanagan are the yellow bellied marmots.

 

[H4831]

In the Okanagan will be yellow belly marmots. Their name is fitting, as their undersection is yellowish colour. They are common on hilly, waste lands.