Full Breakdown
Fat Marmot Week Aims to Save Colorado Marmot Research Amid Climate-Driven Decline
8/21/2026, 10:04:59 PM
Core Event: Online Contest Launched to Raise Funds for Long-Running Study
Researchers at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Gothic, Colorado have inaugurated “Fat Marmot Week,” an online voting contest that begins Monday. The event mirrors “Fat Bear Week” and aims to attract public attention and donations to sustain a continuous marmot research program that has operated since 1962.
Background & Context: Climate-Induced Mortality and Federal Funding Cuts
Last winter, a thin snowpack left marmot burrows exposed, and roughly two-thirds of a monitored population died while hibernating, shrinking the cohort from over 160 individuals to about 60. Scientists link the snow drought to human-caused climate change, estimating the conditions were about 14 times more likely because of global warming. Federal research funding cuts have forced the UCLA department leading the project to lose about one-third of its graduate students. The team estimates it needs more than $200,000 over three years to keep the study running.
Key Figures & Groups
- Dan Blumstein — Project leader, UCLA.
- Katie Adler — UCLA doctoral student, field researcher.
- Emily Renkey — UCLA master’s student, field researcher.
- Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory — Field station in Gothic, Colorado.
- UCLA — Academic institution coordinating the research.
Data & Statistics
- Mortality: two-thirds of the monitored marmot population died last winter.
- Population change: from >160 animals to 60 survivors.
- Weight gain: marmots can double their weight to as much as 13 lb (6 kg) before hibernation.
- Snowpack: this year’s snowpack was the worst on record in the Upper Colorado River Basin.
- Climate attribution: the snow drought was about 14 times more likely due to human-caused climate change.
- Funding gap: >$200,000 needed for three years; a meme-coin initiative has already raised roughly $100,000.
Official Statements & Responses
Project leader Dan Blumstein described the situation as a “Titanic-sinking” scenario, noting the need for novel financing. He emphasized that the six-decade data set lets new graduate students ask questions without rebuilding baseline knowledge.
Katie Adler highlighted the need to engage the broader public and explore unconventional outreach methods.
Emily Renkey connected the local snowpack to downstream water supplies, explaining that melt from the Rockies feeds the Colorado River, which supplies drinking water for millions.
Why It Matters
The marmot study provides insight into how alpine mammals respond to rapid climate shifts, informing conservation strategies for other high-elevation species. Changes in snowmelt also affect water availability for agricultural and urban communities throughout the Colorado River basin, linking mountain ecology to regional water security.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We had over 160 animals and we ended with 60 at the start of this season,” — Dan Blumstein
- “In some sense, we’re going to be laughing our way down as the Titanic sinks,” — Dan Blumstein
- “People have to find funding in ways that we’ve never really thought of before,” — Katie Adler
What's Next
Voting for the “fattest” marmots opens Monday and runs for the week. Organizers hope the publicity will generate enough donations to bridge the $200,000 funding gap and keep the multi-decadal research program active for future seasons.
