UCLA researchers turn to OnlyFans to fund marmot study amid US research budget cuts

Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) operating the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory have been studying yellow‑ground marmots (Marmota flaviventer) near Crested Butte, Colorado, since 1962, amassing more than six decades of population and behavioral data. Facing steep reductions in federal research funding, the team created an OnlyFans account named “OnlyMarms,” posting exclusive videos of the marmots to raise money for consumables and operational costs. The investigators announced the effort on Instagram, saying the funding situation was “so difficult that we turned to OnlyFans – or, as we call it, OnlyMarms.” The project aims to sustain the long‑term study despite the budget cuts.

The marmot research is one of the world’s longest continuous wildlife studies, providing insights into population dynamics, social behavior, predator avoidance strategies, and responses to environmental change. By leveraging the subscription platform, the scientists hope to generate a modest revenue stream to keep the field station running.