SEATTLE— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Trump administration today for failing to decide whether to protect Olympic marmots, a rare species that lives only on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state. The marmots are threatened by climate change and predation by coyotes.

“These adorable Pacific Northwest marmots need Endangered Species Act protections because not even the mighty Olympic Mountains can shield them from climate change and coyotes,” said Aaron Kunkler with the Center for Biological Diversity. “Protecting Olympic marmots will also make sure the beautiful alpine meadows they call home survive into the future.”

Olympic marmots are a unique species of large, ground-dwelling squirrels that occur almost entirely within Olympic National Park. The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned to protect them under the Endangered Species Act in May 2024.

“The park’s alpine meadows would be empty without their iconic guardians, the Olympic marmots,” said John Bridge, president of Olympic Park Advocates.

Olympic marmots require alpine and subalpine meadow ecosystems, which are rapidly changing because of warming temperatures, loss of snow, increased and prolonged wildfire seasons and tree lines moving uphill into their meadows. The marmots have the smallest range and population of any marmot species in the United States. Just 2,000 to 4,000 of the marmots are thought to be alive today.

“These fluffy marmots need action now to save them from extinction,” said Kunkler. “We have to move quickly away from dirty fossil fuels if this species and so many other animals are to have any chance at survival. Reintroducing wolves to the park would also help.”

The loss of wolves, compounded by the loss of snow, has led to more marmots being eaten by coyotes, because coyotes can now easily access marmots at high elevations. Federally sponsored eradication campaigns wiped out wolves from the park by the early 20th century, allowing coyotes to expand their range. Before the eradication of wolves, coyotes were rare west of the Cascades.

Despite the threats they face, Olympic marmots are not harmed by tourism and are frequently seen sprawling out or foraging in popular hiking areas like Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic National Park. The Washington State Legislature declared them the state endemic mammal in 2009.

Today’s lawsuit stems from the federal government’s failure to make an initial determination on the Center’s petition to protect the Olympic marmot under the Endangered Species Act. This is the first step in a long process to protect the marmots.

If the Fish and Wildlife Service decides to protect Olympic marmots, the Endangered Species Act would allow the agency to craft strong safeguards and a recovery plan to ensure that the marmots survive into the future.