In a recent interview, Fat Marmot Week organizer Katie Adler discussed the success of the event with the winner, a plump marmot named Dawn who enjoys eating rocks. Dawn emerged victorious in both the popular vote and weight gain categories during the event held by the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Gothic, Colo.
According to Dawn’s online profile, he is known for fathering multiple marmot litters and indulging in licking salt and minerals off rocks. His weight nearly doubled from 2.5 to 5.9 kilograms (approximately 5.5 to 13 pounds) over the summer, making him a deserving champion in Adler’s eyes.
Despite his triumph, Dawn’s role as the reigning Fat Marmot Week champion has also thrust him into the unofficial position of ambassador for the Marmot Project. The project, a long-term study of yellow-bellied marmots at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, faces uncertain prospects due to significant funding cuts affecting scientific research and education in the U.S.
Inspired by the success of Fat Bear Week at Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve, Fat Marmot Week celebrates the unique hibernation habits of marmots in Gothic, who must accumulate significant weight to survive the winter cold. Adler, a graduate student at the University of California, Los Angeles, expressed concern over the potential impact of funding cuts on the Marmot Project, a research initiative that has been ongoing since 1962.
The Marmot Project, renowned as the world’s second longest-running study of individually marked mammals after Jane Goodall’s chimpanzee research, faces challenges amid diminishing financial support for scientific endeavors. To address this issue, the project has launched creative fundraising campaigns like OnlyMarms on OnlyFans and a petition urging U.S. Congress to reconsider cuts to research funding.
Despite raising over $120,000 in donations through these efforts, researchers emphasize the need for sustainable funding to ensure the continuation of long-term studies on marmots and their adaptation to environmental changes. The Marmot Project remains committed to its mission, striving to raise awareness and secure resources to support its vital research efforts, including planning for the next Fat Marmot Week in 2027.
Adler hopes that initiatives like Fat Marmot Week will foster greater appreciation for marmots among the public, recognizing their resilience and survival strategies in challenging natural environments.
