Royal City residents are used to raccoons, skunks and even, from time to time, coyotes, but it's possible that another furry creature could be making a home here.
A baby marmot was found on Richmond Street at the end of June by an area resident.
It was cared for by the Wildlife Rescue Association in neighbouring Burnaby for a few days, then transferred out to Critter Care in Langley.
Marmots aren't native to the area, but recent sightings suggest there's a possibility some are colonizing here, according to the association.
In early July, a Burnaby resident spotted an adult yellow-bellied marmot on Burns Street and took a photo of it. It disappeared into nearby bushes after a few minutes.
Earlier this year, another marmot caused a media stir after it hitched a ride into the Lower Mainland and the rescue association put out a call for a ride to get it back home.
It wasn't the first instance of a marmot known to have arrived by climbing aboard a vehicle: a marmot once arrived at the association still hiding inside the vehicle it had snuck aboard, refusing to come out. The vehicle had to be partly dismantled and the animal required medical care for burns to its paws.
Colonies of the creatures have been spotted in the past, including most recently in Richmond, and the discovery of the baby marmot could suggest that marmots are breeding in the area. Marmots are not native to this region and prefer rocky habitats and high elevations.
