Exclusive: Meet the inaugural winner of Fat Marmot Week

The inaugural Fat Marmot Week, hosted by the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Colorado, concluded on August 30, 2026, crowning Dawn as its first-ever champion. The competition, inspired by the popular Fat Bear Week in Alaska, featured eight yellow-bellied marmots vying to gain the most weight before winter hibernation. Researchers and the public cast votes to determine the fattest marmot, with Dawn emerging as the winner based on both public popularity and actual weight gain.

Dawn, a resident marmot under the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory’s Marmot Project, gained 4.5 pounds during the event, reaching a total of 13 pounds. Researchers noted his impressive bulking-up efforts, though they joked that his fondness for snacking on rocks may have contributed to his overall size. The Marmot Project, which has studied these alpine rodents since 1962, uses such competitions to raise awareness and funding amid budget cuts.

The competition included seven other marmots: G, Dan’s Hat, Citroen, Open Kite, 1, Dandelion, and Stonehenge. While Dawn won the public vote and the researchers’ weight-based tally, Stonehenge received informal recognition for her resilience after losing her litter to a predator earlier in the year. The event aimed to highlight the importance of marmot research, particularly as climate change and habitat threats grow.

Dan Blumstein, a professor at UCLA and director of the Marmot Project, emphasized the significance of long-term wildlife studies like this one. Speaking to NPR, he explained that such research provides critical insights into how animals adapt to environmental changes. With funding challenges looming, Blumstein has also turned to creative fundraising, including launching an OnlyFans account, OnlyMarms, which offers exclusive marmot content to subscribers.

The Marmot Project, one of the longest-running studies of individually tagged mammals, relies on public engagement and donations to sustain its work. Blumstein noted that while some funding is secured for next year, the future beyond that remains uncertain. Fat Marmot Week was designed not only to celebrate these charismatic creatures but also to rally support for their conservation.

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