Where Did Marmots Go?

All summer long, my daughter Shelly and I have gone downtown to the Centennial Trail to feed the marmots. It’s cheaper than going to the zoo, and they are darling to watch.

We know they prefer oatmeal bread to white, but just like a kid, they prefer doughnuts and fruit pies to bread. Also, an older man and woman come every day with carrot sticks they have cut into perfect pieces for the marmots.

We have made friends with the marmots, as well as with people who stop to ask us what kind of animals they are. We also have befriended a man named Howard and his dog Sheba, who look for the marmots every day and stop to talk with us.

Here is the sad part: We noticed one day that there were only about 12 marmots instead of the 75 we always had fed. Then, the next day, there were eight. The day after that, there were only five.

There is construction going on around the Centennial Trail as it leads away from downtown toward Gonzaga University. There are big trucks, clearing away dirt and debris.

Several people said they bet that before long, because of the buildings being put up in the area, the marmots will be poisoned and killed. We didn’t believe them. Now, we wonder if it’s true.

Howard said maybe the rainy weather we had earlier this month had sent the marmots into hiding, but I’ve seen them in all kinds of weather in the past. I wish this weather theory were true, but I have my doubts.

Whatever happens with this area, we hope the marmots are allowed to stay. They are cute, furry, tame animals.

They stand on their hind feet with food in their front paws, and they nibble the food quickly. And if a dog or child is nearby, one marmot squeaks out a sound, and they all run for cover in the holes in the rocks.

You can’t see animals much anymore (except for dogs and cats) unless you visit a zoo. The marmots remind us that wild animals were living here before humans. The marmots should be allowed to stay where they rightfully belong. I hope this rumor that they are being poisoned turns out to be untrue.

Please, go meet the marmots one day - that is, if you can find them. See what it’s like to feed them. Then you would know what we all are going to miss when they disappear for good.

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