Marmot Study Gets OnlyFans After Losing Federal Funding

A marmot research project that's been running since 1962 just found its most unexpected funding source yet: OnlyFans.

The Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory has tracked yellow-bellied marmots in Colorado longer than almost any other mammal study on Earth. Only Jane Goodall's chimpanzee research has gone on longer.

For decades, the National Science Foundation funded this work, which helps scientists worldwide understand how animals communicate, avoid predators, and adapt to climate change. Then the money stopped coming.

After three rejected grant applications, the NSF told UCLA professor Daniel Blumstein to stop trying. The reason? His team had collected "too much data."

"I don't even know how to parse that sentence," Blumstein told SFGate. The rejection came as the Trump administration froze or slashed over $700 million in NSF grants.

That's when Emily Renkey, a first-year master's student, had an idea. She created "OnlyMarms," a completely family-friendly OnlyFans account promising "unfiltered yellow-bellied marmot content from the Rockies."

The platform known for adult content became home to educational videos of chubby rodents doing adorable things. Sometimes Renkey posts clips she knows will get the most "aws." Other times she uses footage to teach people about specific animal behaviors.

The campaign's early success sparked another fundraising idea: Fat Marmot Week. Inspired by Alaska's beloved Fat Bear Week, the August 24-29 tournament will let people vote for the plumpest marmot while donating to keep the research going.

The first contestant is "Dan's Hat," described as "the cool aunt" of her marmot family group. She lives with other females instead of going solo, a behavior called matrilineal grouping that researchers study to understand social bonds.

Why This Inspires

While Blumstein wishes scientists could focus on research instead of creative fundraising, Renkey sees it differently. She believes public engagement helps people connect with animals they'd never encounter otherwise.

"Why are we doing this work if not to help forward humanity with it?" she said. Being opportunistic and creative isn't a distraction from science—it's part of what makes good research possible.

The campaign proves that when traditional funding fails, passion and creativity can bridge the gap. And it's introducing thousands of people to the science happening in their own backyard.

Sometimes the best solutions come from thinking completely outside the box, even if that box happens to be OnlyFans.