Sustainable Management of Alpine Marmots in Livigno

D.R.E.Am. Italia is actively committed to identifying and implementing sustainable solutions to mitigate conflicts between wildlife and human activities. A concrete example is the project for the capture and translocation of Alpine marmots (Marmota marmota) in the Municipality of Livigno (Province of Sondrio), which resumed in 2024 after a one-year pause to evaluate the outcomes of the previous three-year intervention.

Now in its fourth year, the project is based on a Control Plan approved by ISPRA (Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research) and aims to:

• Reduce the impact of marmots on grasslands and pastures used for agriculture and livestock farming;
• Support species conservation by using captured individuals as founders in reintroduction projects in suitable areas such as the Adamello Park, Alto Garda, and other locations in the Province of Sondrio.

From 2021 to 2023, a total of 514 marmots were captured and underwent biometric and health analyses in collaboration with the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia-Romagna and the ATS Montagna. These studies significantly enhanced scientific knowledge about the health status of the species and its ecological role in alpine ecosystems.

The ongoing plan foresees the annual capture and translocation of 50–100 marmots over the next three years, aiming to maintain population densities compatible with local land use. All operations are carried out with the utmost attention to animal welfare, using specialized techniques and an innovative holding system designed to minimize stress.

Since 2020, marmot population monitoring has included annual counts supported by advanced technologies, such as thermal imaging cameras, visible-spectrum drones, and thermal drones, integrated with statistical analysis.

The project is carried out with the support and active involvement of the Province of Sondrio, the Provincial Police, the Municipality of Livigno, and several trained local stakeholders from the agricultural, hunting, and volunteer sectors.