A yellow-bellied marmot named Dawn has claimed the top spot in Gothic, Colo., as the winner of the first-ever Fat Marmot Week organized by the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory. Dawn impressed both in the popular vote and the weigh-in, showcasing a remarkable weight gain from 2.5 to 5.9 kilograms over the summer, doubling his body weight.
Known for fathering multiple baby marmots and his peculiar habit of licking salt and minerals off rocks, Dawn has become a local sensation. The event’s organizer, Katie Adler, praised Dawn as a deserving champion with a unique fondness for rocks.
Despite his newfound fame, Dawn’s victory comes with responsibilities. As the reigning heavyweight marmot, he now serves as an informal ambassador for the Marmot Project, a crucial long-term research initiative facing financial uncertainty due to cuts in science and education funding in the United States.
The Marmot Project draws inspiration from the successful Fat Bear Week held at Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve. Similar to bears, yellow-bellied marmots undergo a period of hibernation during the winter, necessitating significant weight gain to endure the cold months.
Adler, a graduate ecology student at UCLA and part of the Marmot Project team, emphasized the importance of sustained funding for their research efforts. Established in 1962, the Marmot Project stands as the world’s second-longest study of individually marked mammals, contributing valuable insights into the marmot population over the past six decades.
However, the project faces challenges due to funding cuts imposed by the Trump administration, impacting research organizations like the National Science Foundation. With fewer resources available, the Marmot Project has turned to innovative approaches such as creating an OnlyFans account called OnlyMarms to raise awareness and gather donations.
While these unconventional fundraising efforts have generated over $120,000 US, they are not a sustainable solution for long-term research. The Marmot Project has launched a petition urging Congress to reverse the funding cuts and secure the future of their vital research.
Adler and her team are determined to persevere, planning the next Fat Marmot Week for 2027. Through initiatives like these, they hope to instill a greater appreciation for marmots and their resilience in the face of challenging environmental conditions.
