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The Vancouver Island marmot is a critically endangered rodent species and one of the world's rarest species endemic to mountains of Vancouver Island. It is a rodent in the squirrel family. Factors such as predation and habitat loss and alterations due to human activities and climate have contributed more to their decrease than increase. Predators of the marmot include the golden eagle, wolves, and cougars. Conservation efforts such as captive breeding have been made by several bodies such as the Toronto Zoo to endeavour to keep the species from extinction.