Certain members of this yellow-bellied marmot pose for research funding on OnlyFans.Image: imago
July 28, 2026, 12:09 p.mJuly 28, 2026, 12:09 p.m
The Trump administration saved billions of dollars in research funding – including in marmot studies. Some researchers are now trying to use an OnlyFans account to fill the financial gaps that have arisen. This is what the online newspaper reports SFGATE.
Marmots are perfect for long-term studies. They are easy to catch, extremely social and vocal animals and do not travel long distances. Since 2001, Daniel Blumenstein, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of California, has been leading such a long-term study of yellow-bellied marmots in the state of Colorado.
Funds for the study were always relatively easy to access. But when Blumenstein wanted to renew funding from the National Science Foundation for another ten years, he was rejected three times. They said they had too much data.
“This is completely crazy,” Blumenstein tells the newspaper. “Long-term studies address some of the most important questions of our time.” Although the necessity of this is difficult to convey, the data collected is invaluable when studying evolutionary processes across generations.
Marmots are extremely social animals.Image: imago
Fearful of having to stop the study entirely due to lost funds, Blumenstein’s team looked for alternative financing options. They started the OnlyFans account OnlyMarms.
On OnlyFans, a platform known for pornographic content, users can leave tips under individual posts. The money donated is divided between the creator and the platform. The OnlyMarms channel offers cute marmot pictures and videos instead of naked human body parts.
The idea came from the imagination of Emily Renkey, a master’s student in Blumenstein’s team. She had to install the cameras anyway for research purposes. Now she is browsing the video material for interesting sequences to publish on the OnlyFans channel. “Sometimes I only post videos that I think will get the most reviews,” she explains to the newspaper.
OnlyMarms is not the marmot researchers’ only funding initiative. In addition to selling an IPA beer “Marmot Tears”, there will also be one Fat Marmot Weekmodeled on the Fat Bear Weekare brought into being. From August 24th you can vote on the fattest marmot before hibernation.
The marmot lady Dan’s Hat is so far the only candidate for the title of fattest marmot.Image: Screenshot fatmarmotweek
The groundhog content on OnlyFans is said to have already brought in a few hundred dollars. The scientists used the money to buy bait. This is intended to attract the animals so that they can be further researched. (Nile)