GOTHIC, Colo. (AP) — Marmots living in the Colorado mountains faced a harsh winter last year, with insufficient snow cover causing significant hibernation mortality. Researchers noted that two-thirds of one population perished during the season. Those that survived have been thriving, getting ready for both fall and the hibernation season.
Enter the first Fat Marmot Week, modeled after Fat Bear Week, an online contest where people vote for Alaskan brown bears preparing for winter. Starting Monday, Fat Marmot Week aims to bring attention to these animals while addressing crucial funding needs for ongoing research.
“In some sense, we’re going to be laughing our way down as the Titanic sinks,” said Dan Blumstein, leader of the long-running project at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory.
Understanding Marmots
Marmots are large ground squirrels, similar in size to a cat. Found across North America, Europe, and Asia, they live in burrows and include species like groundhogs, which are celebrated in the U.S. and Canada on February 2. In the Rocky Mountains, yellow-bellied marmots are common, often seen by hikers as they move among boulders and wildflowers.
Marmots display varied social behaviors. Some prefer socializing in colonies, while others opt for solitude, according to Emily Renkey, a master’s student at UCLA. They can be recognized by their behaviors and interactions, explained Katie Adler, a doctoral student at UCLA.
Challenges in Research
Collecting data on marmots can be challenging due to varied reactions. Some marmots are wary of being trapped using baited wire boxes, while others are more easily caught, sometimes multiple times in one morning.
Marmots engage in deep hibernation, dropping their body temperature to 41 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius). This contrasts with bears, which enter a lighter torpor state. Marmots become largely inert, breathing infrequently, and are almost rock-like in their hibernation.
Impact of Poor Snowpack
The previous year’s poor snowfall and warm temperatures deprived Colorado marmots of essential snow insulation. This led to a significant decline from over 160 marmots to just 60, due to cold exposure.
Research findings highlight broader environmental issues. Last year’s snowpack was the worst recorded in the Upper Colorado River Basin. Human-induced climate change has increased the likelihood of such conditions.
These changes not only affect local wildlife but also have downstream impacts. Water availability for farmers and communities depends on snowmelt from these mountainous regions.
Marmoteers and Funding Efforts
The marmot study, one of the longest of its kind, started in 1962 and is led by researchers from UCLA and the University of Ottawa. Participants in the research program, who refer to themselves as “marmoteers,” conduct detailed studies on the marmots.
Funding cuts have severely impacted Blumstein’s department at UCLA, reducing graduate students by one-third. Fat Marmot Week is an effort to raise interest and potential donations.
Creative fundraising includes marmot videos on the OnlyFans platform, leading to the creation of a meme coin called $OnlyMarms. Transaction fees from this initiative have contributed around $100,000 toward research. The team aims to secure over $200,000 to continue studies next summer.
“People have to find funding in ways that we’ve never really thought of before,” Adler stated.
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