UCLA researchers have launched a free OnlyFans-style page called OnlyMarms to raise voluntary tips after federal cuts jeopardized a decades-long study of yellow-bellied marmots. The G-rated page shares footage of marmot behavior and has so far drawn 112 subscribers and roughly $650 in tips — useful but far short of the funding needed. Team leader Daniel Blumstein says long-term studies are vital for spotting slow ecological changes, and that funding shortfalls threaten such research and the people who conduct it.
UCLA Scientists Launch 'OnlyMarms' OnlyFans Page to Rescue Decades‑Long Marmot Study
Photo Credit: iStock
After recent federal research cuts put a long-running study at risk, a team of UCLA animal researchers has turned to an unexpected fundraising platform: a free OnlyFans page called OnlyMarms.
Led by biologist Daniel Blumstein, the group posts short, G-rated videos and research updates featuring wild yellow-bellied marmots — footage of digging, foraging and social behavior — and asks viewers to leave voluntary tips to support field work. The scientists emphasize there is no nudity or sexual content: the account is meant purely to share science and nature in a playful way.
How the Page Started
Blumstein said the idea came while waiting for marmots in a field near Gothic, Colorado. The team set up the OnlyFans page to reach new audiences and generate small donations to help cover costs for their long-term field research. So far, the page has attracted 112 subscribers and about $650 in tips — helpful but well short of what’s needed to sustain the multi-decade project.
“It’s going to be G-rated, and we’re not going to sexualize this. We’re just going to have fun with sharing,” Blumstein told The New York Times.
The account also produced a humorous hiccup during verification: when Blumstein uploaded his driver’s license the platform flagged the submission, noting that the person on the ID did not match the marmots in the posts. “I don’t look like the marmot,” he quipped.
Why Long-Term Marmot Research Matters
In Colorado, the researchers track yellow-bellied marmots across years to document behavior, family relationships and responses to environmental change. Such long-term studies are rare — very few animal-behavior projects continue beyond three years — yet they are essential for detecting slow ecological shifts and understanding how wildlife and ecosystems respond to climate and land-use changes.
Scientists warn that federal funding reductions can undermine this kind of work by breaking continuity, reducing job stability for researchers and students, and forcing teams to divert time from science to scramble for survival funding. Creative efforts like OnlyMarms may help bridge gaps, but organizers say they are unlikely to replace sustained research grants.
What’s next: The UCLA team will continue posting footage and outreach content while seeking more stable funding sources to preserve the long-term marmot study.
Help us improve.
