July 28 (UPI) — Researchers studying marmots in Colorado are compensating for the loss of federal funding by showing off the animals on OnlyFans.

Daniel Blumstein, a professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of California, Los Angeles, is the head of a Colorado marmot-research program that has been running since 1962, but is now in danger due to the loss of research grants that were canceled last year by President Donald Trump’s administration.

Blumstein and his team at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory created an OnlyFans page called “OnlyMarms,” where fans can see daily photos and videos of wild marmots and leave tips to help support the ongoing research.

“It’s going to be G-rated, and we’re not going to sexualize this,” Blumstein told The New York Times. “We’re just going to have fun with sharing.”

The page, which promises “Unfiltered yellow-bellied marmot content from the Rockies,” was created and is maintained by first-year masters student Emily Renkey, who has been with the program since 2022.

“Sometimes I’m just posting the videos I think will get the most ‘awws,'” Renkey told SFGate. “But my favorite is when I find footage of a particular behavior and I can use that to educate people.”

Renkey defended the decision to use unconventional means to raise research funds.

“I don’t know if I agree with the idea that scientists shouldn’t have to be opportunistic and creative. I think that’s a lot of what science and research is,” she said. “It can be intimidating to engage with the public like this, but why are we doing this work if not to help forward humanity with it?”

The marmot program’s other fundraisers include the early July launch of Marmot Tears IPA, a beer brewed by Irwin Brewing Co. in Crested Butte, and an upcoming Fat Marmot Week event in August, inspired by Katmai National Park’s Fat Bear Week.

Blumstein said the program is also continuing to pursue traditional funding sources.