The Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) is an independent nonprofit organization focusing on marmot research in the Rocky Mountains. The organization is hosting its first-ever Fat Marmot Week to help raise awareness about these alpine rodents. The competition begins Monday, and it will allow the public to vote for their favorite fat marmot.
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Fat Marmot Week is a spinoff of Fat Bear Week, an annual contest put on by Explore.org that allows the public to vote for Alaskan brown bears as they plump up for their winter brumations. Similarly, the RMBL Marmot Project‘s Fat Marmot Week will be “a competition between the largest true hibernators on [Earth] to see who can put on the most weight.”
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Want to join in the fun? Round one voting will begin this Monday, August 24, 2026, from 9 AM-9 PM EST. Round two voting will begin on August 26, and the final round of voting will begin on August 28.
For marmots, this isn’t a game; it’s about survival. To donate to the nonprofit, click here.
See the official announcement and follow along with Fat Marmot Week below.
Header stock image by Nathan Bilow/Getty Images
