Meet Dutni, the yellow-bellied marmot calling UNBC home

Staff at the University of Northern British Columbia recently spotted a large rodent on campus. At first glance, it looked like a groundhog, which are common in our area. When Dr. Jamie Gorrell, a biology professor at the university who happens to specialize in marmots, heard about this creature, he was able to identify it as a yellow-bellied marmot. These creatures are commonly found in the southern interior of the province, but are known hitchhikers and have established colonies in Williams Lake and Quesnel. The marmot’s appearance at UNBC makes it the northern-most recorded yellow-bellied marmot, which raises questions about how climate change is affecting habitat. Now named Dutni (the Dakelh word for marmot), this marmot is living happily outside the Teaching and Learning Building. If you’d like to see Dutni for yourself, the best time of day is early morning or evening. University staff remind you to keep a respectful distance while observing. You can learn more on the UNBC website at unbc.ca/marmot-cam.