Daniel Blumstein has faced funding challenges for his yellow-bellied marmot study, exacerbated by recent cuts in environmental research funding. Watching the Apple TV show “Margo’s Got Money Troubles” sparked an idea in him to create an OnlyFans account, “OnlyMarms,” to share amusing videos of marmots from his lab and seek public support.
The OnlyMarms project on OnlyFans features humorous images of individual marmots twice a week since June, maintaining a G-rated theme. Blumstein’s team plans to launch “Fat Marmot Week” on August 24, inviting public participation in a bracket-style tournament akin to Alaska’s “Fat Bear Week.”
Blumstein’s long-term study at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory examines yellow-bellied marmots’ aging and responses to climate change. The research, ongoing since 1962, offers insights into aging and epigenetics, exploring how environmental factors impact gene functionality.
Emphasizing body positivity, the lab studies marmots’ ability to gain weight without adverse health effects for survival. Despite facing funding rejections even before the Trump administration’s cuts, Blumstein has sustained his study through collaborations and external grants.
OnlyMarms has raised approximately $3,000 US since June, though insufficient to meet the study’s funding requirements. Blumstein urges supporters to donate directly to UCLA to support the project’s continuation.