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Thw woodchuck / ground hog is the only marmot they have in VT, which is where the OP lives. I thought this was too dark for a woodchuck, but I just read there is a black phase, which this appears to be. So black phase woodchuck is my guess.

Oh, now that someone else has said it, I think it might be a woodchuck. They're usually lighter but can be dark. This one looks kind of thin for a woodchuck, but maybe it is young? Google images to confirm. They don't have nutrias in VT.

Is the tail bushy, like a squirrel tail? If so, I think it is a gray squirrel, black color phase. If it is, then it's not a threat to chickens.