Scientists Launch Fat Marmot Week After Losing $700M in Cuts

When the Trump administration cut over $700 million in National Science Foundation grants, scientists studying yellow-bellied marmots in Gothic, Colorado faced a crisis. Their solution? A contest to crown the fattest marmot.

The Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory has tracked wild marmots since 1962, creating the world's longest-running study of free-living mammals after Jane Goodall's chimpanzee research. For decades, this work provided crucial data on animal communication, social bonds, and how wildlife adapts to climate change.

But after three rejected funding requests, UCLA professor Daniel Blumstein and his team needed a new approach. Enter Emily Renkey, a first-year master's student who created "OnlyMarms," a family-friendly OnlyFans account posting adorable marmot videos to educate the public and raise funds.

"Sometimes I'm just posting the videos I think will get the most 'awws,'" Renkey told SFGate. "But my favorite is when I find footage of a particular behavior, and I can use that to educate people."

Their latest campaign, Fat Marmot Week, mirrors Alaska's beloved Fat Bear Week. The contest celebrates these chunky rodents as they pack on pounds before hibernation, the longest sleep of any true hibernator.

Eight marmots are competing, each with personality profiles that have captured hearts online. There's Dawn, a devoted father who enjoys "the taste of rocks." Open Kite runs her territory as a "girl boss" who chose self-care over reproduction this year. And Goblin (nicknamed G) is "one loud and proud marmot" who sprints everywhere but still gains weight impressively.

Scientists identify each marmot using non-toxic fur dye painted in unique shapes on their backs, plus numbered ear tags they call "earrings." This tracking system inspired creative names like Dan's Hat, Paper Plane, and Citroen.

Voting runs on August 24, 26, and 28 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST. Winners will be announced August 29 for heaviest estimated weight and August 30 for popular vote.

The Ripple Effect

What started as a funding emergency has sparked genuine public interest in alpine ecology. Thousands of people now follow these marmots, learning about hibernation patterns, matrilineal social structures, and climate adaptation while scientists secure the resources to continue their work.

The campaign shows how creativity can bridge the gap between scientific research and public engagement, turning funding cuts into an opportunity to build a passionate community around conservation.

Scientists tracking marmots in an abandoned mining town just proved that sometimes the best way to save research is to make people fall in love with it.