This BC foundation protects one of the rarest mammals in the world & they’re hiring

If you’re passionate about wildlife conservation and are looking for a job that gets you outdoors, The Marmot Recovery Foundation may have just the job for you.

The foundation is a small charity supporting the conservation and recovery of the endangered Vancouver Island Marmot – which just so happens to include BC’s resident ‘groundhog.’ 

About the Vancouver Island Marmot

For those who don’t know, the Vancouver Island Marmot (Marmota vancouverensis) is one of the rarest mammals in the world.

In addition to their large beaver-like teeth and characteristic chocolate brown fur, Marmots are part of the Sciuridate family, growing to the approximate size of a large house cat.

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About the jobs

As of January 18th, The Marmot Recovery Foundation is looking to fill two summer positions: Wildlife Technician and Marmot Keeper.

Both jobs will be based in Nanaimo and offer successful applicants a fixed-term summer contract between May 1st to August 31st, with a starting salary of $3,000 per month.

Note that start times can be as early as 4 am and field days can be very long, according to the listing. So applicants who are early risers and can handle 4 to 8 hours of hiking per day are strongly encouraged to apply.

In addition to hiking, remote camping, and the ability to drive 4×4 trucks, Wildlife Technicians may regularly snowshoe up to 10 km per day, potentially with avalanche hazards (avalanche safety training will be provided).

The Marmot Keeper position requires demonstrated experience with animal handling, which may include maintaining animal care records and caring for animals in a captive setting. This role entails spending up to two days a week at the facility caring for the Marmots at the Tony Barrett Mount Washington Marmot Recovery Centre.

Note that schedules will change throughout the season due to changes in weather and the relatively short length of the field season, so candidates must be flexible and available to work at any time during the contract period.

So there you have it, wildlife enthusiasts! If you’ve got the stamina and experience to do field work, it’s worth checking out the job listings and shooting your shot.

Good luck!