Marmot researchers raising funds with OnlyMarms on OnlyFans

Colorado marmot researchers raising funds through an OnlyFans page called OnlyMarms are sharing G-rated photos and videos of wild yellow-bellied marmots after federal research grants were canceled. The Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory team says tips help keep a program running since 1962 afloat while they still seek traditional funding.

Key Takeaways

• UCLA-led researchers at Colorado's Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory launched OnlyMarms on OnlyFans after federal grants were canceled.
• The page shares daily G-rated photos and videos of wild yellow-bellied marmots and accepts tips for research.
• Masters student Emily Renkey maintains the account, mixing cute clips with behavior footage meant to educate.
• Other fundraisers include Marmot Tears IPA and an upcoming Fat Marmot Week, while traditional grants are still pursued.

The story sits firmly in the lane of bizarre news: a serious long-running field study turning to a platform better known for adult content to stay alive.

Why are marmot researchers raising funds on OnlyFans?

According to UPI, Daniel Blumstein, a University of California, Los Angeles professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, leads a Colorado marmot program that has operated since 1962.

That work is now at risk after research grants were canceled last year by President Donald Trump's administration. Blumstein's team at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory responded by creating OnlyMarms, where supporters can tip while viewing daily marmot photos and videos.

For readers who follow odd science and animal headlines, the move shows how abruptly a decades-old field project can lose support—and how creatively researchers may scramble to replace it.

What do fans see on the OnlyMarms page?

The page promises "Unfiltered yellow-bellied marmot content from the Rockies." Blumstein told The New York Times it will stay G-rated.

"It's going to be G-rated, and we're not going to sexualize this," he said. "We're just going to have fun with sharing."

First-year masters student Emily Renkey, with the program since 2022, created and maintains the page. She told SFGate she posts videos that draw "awws," and prefers clips that show a particular behavior so she can educate viewers.

That mix of cute and educational content is the pitch: tips support cameras on wild marmots in the Rockies, not anything explicit.

Are there other ways the marmot project is fundraising?

Yes. Early July brought Marmot Tears IPA, brewed by Irwin Brewing Co. in Crested Butte. In August, organizers plan Fat Marmot Week, inspired by Katmai National Park's Fat Bear Week.

Renkey defended the unconventional approach, saying she does not agree scientists should avoid being opportunistic and creative, and that engaging the public is part of helping forward humanity through the work. Blumstein said the program is also still chasing traditional funding sources.

Together, the beer, the event week, and OnlyMarms form a stopgap while the team looks for lasting grant support for marmot research that has continued for more than six decades.