The Olympic marmot will take center stage Tuesday in celebration of the animal becoming the state’s official endemic mammal.
The furry creatures were officially named as a symbol of the state when Gov. Chris Gregoire signed the bill into law May 12.
The law took effect Sunday.
Tuesday will be all about marmots, starting at 11 a.m. at the Legislative Building in Olympia.
State symbol
Marmots became a state symbol after some Seattle students at Wedgwood Elementary School made the suggestion to Sen. Ken Jacobsen, D-Seattle, who represents the 46th District.
State Secretary of State Sam Reed will say a few words to kick off the event Tuesday.
Jacobsen will speak, and several of the Wedgwood Elementary School students who came up with the idea for a state symbol and testified before the Senate Natural Resources, Ocean and Recreation Committee will also be at Tuesday’s celebration.
Kelly Clark, the teacher who helped the students suggest the bill to the senator, will also attend.
Only 800 Olympic marmots are believed to be in existence, Reed’s office said in a news release.
Most of the marmots live in the mountains near Hurricane Ridge.
The declining population has been a concern for about a decade, research scientist Sue Griffin said.
Griffin has been tracking the population and has noticed a decline of about 8 percent per year.
The decline appears to be a result of predication by coyotes, Griffin said.
On Hurricane Hill alone, there were about 50 marmots about a decade ago, Griffin said.
The number was down to 14 in 2004 and went up to about 25 this year, she said.
As part of the marmot celebration, the state Secretary of State office is looking for a name for the office replica of a marmot.
A few of the choices are: Marilyn Marmot (the final “T” is silent), Maddie, Greg, Marge and other suggestions.
As of Sunday afternoon, Marilyn Marmot was winning with about 55 percent of the 20 votes that had come in so far.
To vote, visit: http://tinyurl.com/olympic marmot
