In Daniel Blumstein’s enduring study of yellow-bellied marmots, securing funding has been an ongoing struggle, particularly with the decrease in environmental research funding during the Trump administration, as reported to CBC News. The idea to create an OnlyFans account for marmots arose when Blumstein drew inspiration from the protagonist in the Apple TV comedy “Margo’s Got Money Troubles,” who turned to digital sex work to avoid financial hardship.
Prompted by the amusing videos of marmots in his lab, Blumstein proposed the idea of sharing them on OnlyFans to solicit tips. Subsequently, a graduate student at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory established an OnlyFans account named “OnlyMarms.”
Although OnlyFans is typically associated with explicit content, Blumstein stressed that OnlyMarms is a family-friendly project. The account features lighthearted images and bios of individual marmots posted every Monday and Friday since June. The team is organizing a “Fat Marmot Week” event, mirroring the popular “Fat Bear Week” from Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve, to engage the public in voting for their favorite chubby marmot.
Blumstein’s research focuses on aging and climate change response in yellow-bellied marmots, making it the second-longest study of wild mammals with individually identifiable subjects. The prolonged study allows insights into aging and epigenetics, showing how environmental factors impact genetic functioning.
The lab’s emphasis on body positivity for marmots stems from the need for the animals to gain substantial weight before hibernation to survive. Despite facing funding challenges even before the Trump administration’s cuts, Blumstein has managed to sustain the study through collaborations and external grants.
OnlyMarms has generated around $3,000 US since its launch, but additional funding is required to support ongoing research efforts. While OnlyFans provides some financial support, Blumstein encourages donations directly to UCLA to ensure the project’s continuation.
