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Colorado researchers launch inaugural Fat Marmot Week
The Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory is launching the first Fat Marmot Week, an online contest designed to spotlight alpine rodents. While modeled after the popular Fat Bear Week, the event serves a critical purpose: raising donations for long-term marmot research in the face of federal funding cuts.
Researchers report that the marmot population in the Colorado mountains faced significant hardship last winter. Due to insufficient snow cover, approximately two-thirds of one population died while hibernating. The surviving yellow-bellied marmots are currently fattening up for the upcoming hibernation season.
Scientists from the University of California, Los Angeles, are involved in studying the social behaviors of these creatures, noting that they are 'flexibly social' and can live in colonies of up to 30 animals or prefer solitude.
Entities
Colorado · Dan Blumstein · Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory · University of California, Los Angeles
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The event aims to raise donations for marmot research following federal funding cuts. srnnews.com · www.bangordailynews.com · wtop.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The inaugural Fat Marmot Week begins on Monday. srnnews.com · www.bangordailynews.com · wtop.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Two-thirds of a specific marmot population in the Colorado mountains died during hibernation due to insufficient snow cover. srnnews.com · www.bangordailynews.com · wtop.com