In a recent interview with Fat Marmot Week organizer Katie Adler, it was revealed that the most popular yellow-bellied marmot in Gothic, Colo., is a chubby male named Dawn who has a fondness for rocks. During the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory’s first Fat Marmot Week event, Dawn emerged as the winner in both the popular vote and weight gain categories, nearly doubling his body weight from 2.5 to 5.9 kilograms over the summer.
According to Dawn’s online bio, he is known for fathering multiple marmot offspring and indulging in licking salt and minerals off rocks. Katie Adler, the organizer of Fat Marmot Week, praised Dawn as a deserving champion, referring to him as a “special boy who likes to eat rocks.”
As the reigning champion, Dawn has also taken on the unofficial role of ambassador for the Marmot Project, a long-term research initiative facing financial uncertainty due to budget cuts impacting science and education funding in the U.S.
Inspired by the success of Fat Bear Week in Alaska, Fat Marmot Week celebrates the hibernating habits of marmots in Gothic. Yellow-bellied marmots like Dawn must gain significant weight before winter to survive the cold months.
Katie Adler, a graduate student at UCLA working on the Marmot Project, highlighted the importance of long-term research efforts like the study of yellow-bellied marmots. The project, which began in 1962, is one of the world’s oldest studies on individually marked mammals, tracking the adaptation of marmots to environmental changes over generations.
However, the Marmot Project faces challenges due to funding cuts, particularly affecting research organizations like the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory. To raise awareness and funds, the project launched creative initiatives such as OnlyMarms on OnlyFans, showcasing marmots on camera traps for subscribers.
Despite raising over $120,000 in donations through these efforts, the Marmot Project recognizes the need for sustainable funding for long-term research. They have initiated a petition urging Congress to reverse research cuts and ensure the continuity of vital scientific studies.
Looking ahead, the Marmot Project plans to host another Fat Marmot Week in 2027, continuing their mission to educate the public about marmots and their resilience in the face of changing environments.
