Meet the Chunkiest Marmots in Colorado's 'Fat Marmot Week
Fat Marmot Week is here! A new online competition is encouraging people to cast their vote for the fattest yellow-bellied marmots in the state of Colorado. Here is a look at the contest and the awareness it is bringing to these rodents.
Voting is Open for Fat Marmot Week
'Tis the season for Colorado's yellow-bellied marmot population to fatten up in order to survive the harsh winter. The Rocky Mountain Biological Library (RMBL) is celebrating the annual rite of passage by hosting a week of events dedicated to the creature. An online contest allows people to vote for the marmot that they think is the plumpest.
Eight marmots are featured in the contest that runs August 24 to 29. Voting is open every day during this time from 9 am to 9 pm EST. The winner with the largest weight will be announced on August 29, while the popular vote winner will be revealed on August 30.
According to an RMBL news release, “Fat Marmot Week is a lighthearted, tournament-style event that highlights the remarkable transformation yellow-bellied marmots undergo each summer as they feed almost constantly on grasses and wildflowers, roughly doubling their body weight in preparation for about five months of hibernation."
Although the contest is a fun diversion, the goal is to bring awareness to the importance of animals preparing for hibernation. Dan Blumstein, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UCLA and co-director of the RMBL Marmot Project, noted that “It’s fun to root for the chunkiest marmot, but behind the fun and games is a deathly serious competition against nature to pile on fat to survive the long, cold winter."
Each of the eight contestants is named after a unique non-toxic fur mark used by the researchers to track them. Some of the contestants include marmots named Stonehenge, Goblin, and Dan's Hat. Voters are encouraged to choose the marmot that they believe “best exemplifies healthy hibernation preparation.”
About the Yellow-Bellied Marmots
While the lovable alpine residents are not an endangered species, scientists have been able to learn a lot about other animal behaviors by observing the marmots. These rodents serve an important role in the cycle of the ecosystem.
Known scientifically as Marmota flaviventris, the large rodents are equipped with strong legs that help them climb up steep rocks and over rough terrain. According to the National Park Service (NPS), the marmots range between 19 and 27 inches long, weighing between 4 and 12 pounds.
The yellow-bellied marmots typically go into hibernation in late September before emerging from their burrow in late April or early May. During the time of hibernation, the critters rely on their body fat stores for survival.
Established in 1962, the RMBL Marmot Project is distinguished as “one of the world’s longest-running studies of individually marked wild mammals." Researchers with the project have gleaned significant information about animal behavior, survival techniques, and changing alpine ecosystems over the years studying these marmots.
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