The Marmot Who Moved Into a Luxury Hotel — And His Endangered Island Cousins
A Postcard from Tilly to Polar Boutique HQ
To: Polar Boutique HQ
Sent from somewhere on Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Dear Paulette & Jemma,
I've discovered something rather wonderful about marmots.
Some sleep for most of the year. And apparently, one decided to move into a luxury hotel!
Let me explain. I've been learning about the Vancouver Island marmot, a little mountain dweller with chocolate-brown fur, a sweet face and an extraordinary talent for sleeping.
These marmots can hibernate for seven or eight months!
SEVEN OR EIGHT MONTHS!
Imagine going to bed in October and waking up in May. No breakfast. No lunch. Not even a midnight snack. I don't think I could do it.
But here's something even more surprising. Vancouver Island marmots are among Canada's rarest mammals. They live naturally nowhere else on Earth!
In 2003, fewer than 30 remained in the wild. Thankfully, some very dedicated people have been working to bring them back.
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And then I heard about Roger.
Roger isn't a Vancouver Island marmot. He's a yellow-bellied marmot who turned up in Victoria in 2008 and made himself comfortable in the gardens of the famous Fairmont Empress Hotel.
Yes. A HOTEL! Apparently, Roger rather liked the gardens, the greenery and the accommodations. And he stayed. For years!
While his mountain cousins were busy surviving in the wild, Roger was enjoying life at one of Victoria's most famous hotels. He even became a local celebrity! I wonder whether he got room service. Or complimentary breakfast.
Personally, I'd be asking about the breakfast.
Actually, I have just one question: “Do you think Roger had his own room-service menu?”
Anyway, I thought you'd enjoy hearing about these two very different marmot stories.
One reminds us how important it is to protect Canada's rare wildlife.
And the other?
Well, sometimes you just know when you've found the perfect place to stay.
Love,
Tilly 🐻❄️
P.S. If Roger ever checks out, do you think I could have his room?
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Tilly's Real Marmot Facts
Meet the Vancouver Island Marmot
These remarkable little mammals live naturally only on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
They're among the rarest mammals in Canada.
- Champion sleepers: They spend roughly seven to eight months hibernating underground.
- Summer snackers: During the warmer months, they eat grasses, flowers and other plants, storing body fat to survive winter.
- Little mountain neighbours: Their burrows can provide shelter for other small creatures, and marmots are an important part of the mountain food chain.
- Baby marmots: Usually three or four in a litter, they're born underground, blind and almost hairless. They spend their first weeks safely tucked away in the family burrow before emerging to explore the mountain meadows.
- Growing families: Female Vancouver Island marmots generally reproduce only every other year, rather than annually. That's one reason rebuilding their endangered population takes time.
- A remarkable comeback: In 2003, fewer than 30 remained in the wild. Conservation breeding, releases and habitat protection have helped their numbers recover.
According to the Marmot Recovery Foundation, there were approximately 420 wild Vancouver Island marmots in 2025.
They're still endangered, but their comeback is one of Canada's encouraging wildlife conservation stories.
Did You Hear That? Marmots Have Something to Say!
Marmots aren't just champion sleepers. They're rather chatty, too! They communicate with whistles, chirps and squeaks. Their high-pitched alarm calls warn other marmots when danger is nearby.
Tilly was a little disappointed to discover that most of the whistling was about danger, not where to find the best snacks.
And Yes, Roger's Story Is Absolutely Real!
Now here's a Canadian wildlife story that's almost too good to be true. But it really happened!
Roger became a genuine local celebrity, attracting media attention and delighting visitors to Victoria's famous Fairmont Empress Hotel.
And he apparently had quite an appetite for the hotel's carefully tended gardens! Want to discover more about this rather unusual hotel resident?
Read The Fairmont Empress & the Hotel Marmot, published by the hotel itself.
Or discover more about Roger's celebrity status in this 2025 Victoria-area news story.
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Two Different Marmots. Two Remarkable Canadian Stories.
One is making a comeback in the mountains.
The other became a celebrity at one of Canada's grandest hotels.
And both remind us that even the smallest creatures can have extraordinary stories.
You don't have to be big to make a BIG difference. Curious to Learn More?
Discover the conservation work helping Vancouver Island's rare marmots make a comeback.
Marmot Recovery Foundation
🐻❄️ Until next time... Stay curious. Notice the little things. And don't forget the snacks.
— Tilly