Fat Marmot Week Winner | Why Scientists Are Tracking Weights

A New Champion Emerges in the Colorado Alps

Dawn is the official winner of the inaugural Fat Marmot Week. The Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, or RMBL, crowned the rodent after he packed on 4.5 pounds during August. This weight gain brought his total mass to 13 pounds, making him the clear winner in the scientific assessment of the competition. His journey to the top began with a specific diet and a peculiar habit, as researchers note he enjoys eating rocks.

The public also cast their own ballots. When the final tally arrived on August 31, 2026, the public vote mirrored the researchers' findings. Dawn secured both the scientific title and the people’s choice award. Eight marmots competed for the title throughout the month. Each participant needed to gain enough fat to survive the long winter months in the high Colorado mountains.

The Science of Winter Survival

Yellow-bellied marmots spend more than half of the year in hibernation. This process involves dropping their internal body temperature to extreme lows and slowing their heart rate and breathing. Without significant fat reserves, these alpine rodents would not survive the harsh winter conditions. The researchers at the RMBL track these animals closely to observe their survival tactics.

These marmots represent the largest true hibernators in the world. Many people confuse hibernation with the torpor state seen in brown bears, but marmots undergo a much more complete metabolic slowdown. The RMBL has monitored these populations since 1962. This effort stands as one of the longest continuous studies of tagged mammals living in the wild today.

Funding Constraints and Public Engagement

Dan Blumstein, a professor at UCLA and lead scientist for the project, faces a difficult financial reality. Federal research funding has decreased significantly. To bridge the gap, the team turned to public awareness campaigns like Fat Marmot Week. The project hopes that public interest translates into direct donations for continued fieldwork.

Creative fundraising extends beyond mascot competitions. Blumstein recently started an account on the subscription site OnlyFans called OnlyMarms. The account offers content to donors and managed to raise $4,000 by early August. The lab hopes the momentum from Fat Marmot Week secures the future of the project beyond next year. The financial situation remains uncertain, though the team plans to continue their work as long as resources allow.