Marmotology (GROUNDHOGS) with Daniel Blumstein

OLOGIES with Alie Ward
Episode: Marmotology (GROUNDHOGS) with Daniel Blumstein
Date: January 14, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of Ologies dives deep into “Marmotology”—the study of marmots, specifically groundhogs—with marmot behavior and conservation expert Dr. Daniel Blumstein. Alie and Dr. Blumstein debunk common marmot myths, discuss the science and scandals behind Groundhog Day, explore marmot social structures, hibernation, health, environmental challenges, and address listener questions with humor and captivating field stories.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Marmots 101: Taxonomy, Species, and Social Structure

Marmots Are Giant Ground Squirrels: There are about 15 marmot species. Groundhog = woodchuck = whistlepig—just different names or species within Marmota.
"I had no idea. I thought they were different animals."
– Allie Ward (04:36)
Sociality Varies: Groundhogs (woodchucks) are the least social, with offspring dispersing their first year. Other marmot species (e.g., yellow-bellied) are “socially plastic,” forming matrilines; biology not meant to be a “model for our behavior!”
– Dr. Daniel Blumstein (05:00)

[04:18] Meet Dr. Daniel Blumstein

▶️ Dr. Blumstein explains dogged research on sociality and why you should not use marmots as a model for romantic advice.

Anatomy & Hibernation: The Science of Chonk

Size and Weight
- Marmots are about cat-sized; Himalayan marmots are the largest. Groundhogs can weigh up to 15 pounds (7 kg) and are up to 2ft long.
True Hibernators:
- Marmots, not bears, are the "kings of hibernators.” Bears only “aestivate.” Marmots can burn as little as a gram of fat per day while hibernating.
- Their fat is both insulation and "heating oil," thanks to specific diets.
Biomedical Insights:
- Understanding marmots’ ability to become obese without ill health informs obesity research in humans.

Notable Quote (07:03):

"Biomedical researchers study marmots in part to understand how you can be obese without having health consequences."
– Dr. Daniel Blumstein

Distribution and Behavior

Where Marmots Live:
- Across Northern Hemisphere, in North America and Eurasia.
- Groundhogs: From Georgia to Alaska, less efficient hibernators, thus chunkier.
Predators and Plague:
- Marmots have to contend with many predators (hawks, foxes, badgers, even snow leopards).
- Plague (Yersinia pestis) is historically significant; some Eurasian marmots co-evolved with it, prairie dogs (relatives) did not, leading to die-offs.

[13:46] Plague & Fieldwork Dangers

▶️ Fleas and plague are a persistent problem in fieldwork and can wipe out populations.

Groundhog Day: Holiday, Myth & Meteorology

Origins:
- Groundhog Day is a hybrid pagan and European custom marking the midpoint between winter solstice and spring equinox. Germans in Pennsylvania swapped hedgehogs for local hibernators—groundhogs—as weather predictors.
Scientific Accuracy:
- Groundhog predictions are less accurate than a coin flip (over 60% wrong!).
Myths and Scandals:
- Tales such as open-casket rodent funerals, succession scandals (Wiarton Willie), and the swapping of “Phil” groundhogs.

Notable Quote (25:36):

"Freezing their butts off, waiting to worship a rat."
– Dr. Daniel Blumstein, on the Punxsutawney Phil tradition

Marmot Housing: Underground Marvels

Burrow Systems:
- Groundhogs and other marmots create complex burrows with multiple entrances, nurseries, toilet rooms, food storage, and even provide occasional “affordable housing” to other species like skunks or snakes.
- Safety and predator avoidance, not food availability, are the main drivers in burrow placement.

[29:19] Underground Architects

▶️ Dr. Blumstein details the design, layout, and survival function of marmot burrows.

Hibernation Biology

Efficiency:
- Marmots can dramatically lower their body temperatures (some arctic species even under 0°C—“antifreeze marmots!”).
Risks:
- High overwinter mortality if animals emerge too soon and encounter scarce food; only ~50% of pups survive their first winter.

Labs & Fieldwork:

Keeping marmots in captivity requires creative problem-solving (they can escape steel-welded cages!); bedding was the missing link for hibernation to occur in labs.

Human-Marmot Parallels: Loneliness, Sociality, and Costs

Social Costs:
- Unlike humans, more social marmots (especially females) have lower survival and less reproductive success.
"The more social animals are, the less likely they are to survive."
– Dr. Daniel Blumstein (42:37)

Groundhog (and Marmot) Reproduction

Mixed Paternity is the Norm:
- Up to 63% of litters can have multiple fathers.
Not Monogamous:
- No “mate for life.” Social systems vary by species; yellow-bellied marmots have multi-female, sometimes multi-male groups.
Infanticide:
- Both males and sometimes females may kill young, mirroring behaviors seen in other mammals.

Notable Story [48:19]:

"The most successful males have had hundreds of babies because they live more than two years and they start screwing their kids."
– Dr. Daniel Blumstein

Marmots, Pollution, and Hormones

Anal-Genital Distance—as a Pollution Signal:
- In rodents, endocrine-disrupting chemicals (plastics) can affect sexual development. In field populations with extremely clean blood, natural variation still affects behavior; pollution could have much larger impacts.

Notable Quote (54:08):

"Marmot blood should be the new standard for non polluted blood. They're living in nature."
– Dr. Daniel Blumstein

Communication: Whistlepigs, Chirps, and Tails

Alarm Calls:
- Marmots make various alarm calls—not true "words" but risk-signaling. Vancouver Island marmots have five distinct alarm calls, possibly simple syntax.
Loose Lips Sink Ships?
- Frequent calling increases the risk of death for callers.

Groundhogs as Pets and Pests

Pets:
- Social species may be tameable, but generally illegal to keep.
- "Why would she leave me?"—a field tale of a marmot “pet” returning to the wild.
Garden Pests:
- Marmots love vegetable gardens. Exclusion is tough—deep/strong fences needed.
- Dr. Blumstein’s advice: try to enjoy sharing your garden or use barriers, perhaps offer “sacrificial” plants for the marmots.

Marmotology Myths & Listener FAQs

Do Woodchucks Chuck Wood?

"I don't even know what chucking wood is... Beavers are the lumberjacks of nature."
– Dr. Daniel Blumstein (57:23)

The “woodchuck” name likely derives from an Algonquian word.
In reality, groundhogs excavate 700 lbs (320 kg) of soil—not wood—a day.

Dogs & Groundhogs

Dogs’ predatory chase instinct kicks in with groundhogs, but marmots are adept at dashing back to burrows.

Diet

Marmots are primarily herbivores; may eat some insects incidentally, but don’t eat bird eggs.

Are They Good Parents?

Varies widely by individual and species; some maternal care, not much from dads, and lots of variation, with some mothers being inattentive.

Communication

Marmots use chirps, whistles, and tail signals—no evidence for “words,” but they effectively communicate danger and risk to others.

Notable Quotes

On Sociality:
"Turns out that many ways we're looking at sociality, the more social animals are, the less likely they are to survive. ... So there are some benefits of sociality, but we are also finding lots of costs of being too socially integrated with others."
– Dr. Daniel Blumstein (42:37)
On Fat Marmot Week:
"I would launch a Fat Marmot Week. ... We're talking about starting a Fat Marmot Week."
– Dr. Daniel Blumstein (34:04)
On Career and Science:
"I love my job. I have the best job in the world—getting funding for it."
– Dr. Daniel Blumstein (74:35)
On Following Your Inner Marmot:
"Basically you have to follow your inner marmot. That's my advice."
– Dr. Daniel Blumstein (77:12)
On Marmot Chilling:
"Picking up a living furry stone is not in the physics that I've been taught."
– Dr. Daniel Blumstein (10:25)

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |----------------------------------------|-----------| | Intro & Guest Intro | 00:00-04:18 | | Marmot Basics & Social Structure | 04:19-08:18 | | Hibernation & Physiology | 06:23-13:39 | | Plague, Predators, Fieldwork | 13:46-19:24 | | Groundhog Day, Cultural History | 19:26-26:15 | | Dr. Blumstein’s Field Journey | 26:16-28:25 | | Burrow Engineering & Safety | 29:19-32:00 | | Garden, Pest, and Pet Interactions | 64:05-62:44 | | Marmot Reproduction | 44:03-49:31 | | Endocrine Disrupting Pollutants | 49:34-54:44 | | Communication & Alarm Calls | 71:33-73:59 | | Listener Q&A Highlights | 39:09-73:31 | | Funding Science & Long-Term Studies | 74:35-76:14 | | Motivation & Joys of Marmotology | 77:12-78:06 |

Memorable Moments

Allie walks into the interview having spilled iced tea on herself (03:04)—setting a relaxed tone of authenticity and humor.
Dr. Blumstein recounts the logistical puzzles and wild escapes in marmot captivity experiments (12:28).
Listener Francesca describes a “commune” of groundhogs in Kentucky, leading to a discussion on marmot sociability and risks (39:21).
Discussion of bizarre marmot festival scandals—dead groundhogs, open-casket funerals, and “drama in the marmot world” (24:58).
A whimsical debate on how much wood a woodchuck could chuck gives way to scientific facts about marmot excavation (57:23).
Dr. Blumstein’s life advice: “Follow your inner marmot.” (77:12)

Conclusion

This episode illuminates groundhogs and their marmot kin—from their wild and sometimes scandalous behavioral ecology to their role in tradition, culture, and biomedical research. Dr. Blumstein’s deep knowledge and storytelling bring marmotology alive, offering listeners both practical answers and existential inspiration. Groundhogs may be grumpy, solitary, and prone to dramatic escapades, but by embracing their quirks, we learn more about the interconnectedness of life, science, and even our own place in the world.

Further Resources

Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (Dr. Blumstein’s charity of choice)
Smologies: Kid-/classroom-safe versions of podcast episodes
Papers, studies, and videos: Linked at alieward.com/ologies/marmotology

"This is one time where television really fails to capture the true excitement of a large squirrel predicting the weather."
– Dr. Daniel Blumstein (80:53)

OLOGIES with Alie Ward
Episode: Marmotology (GROUNDHOGS) with Daniel Blumstein
Date: January 14, 2026

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Marmots 101: Taxonomy, Species, and Social Structure

Marmots Are Giant Ground Squirrels: There are about 15 marmot species. Groundhog = woodchuck = whistlepig—just different names or species within Marmota.
"I had no idea. I thought they were different animals."
– Allie Ward (04:36)
Sociality Varies: Groundhogs (woodchucks) are the least social, with offspring dispersing their first year. Other marmot species (e.g., yellow-bellied) are “socially plastic,” forming matrilines; biology not meant to be a “model for our behavior!”
– Dr. Daniel Blumstein (05:00)

[04:18] Meet Dr. Daniel Blumstein

▶️ Dr. Blumstein explains dogged research on sociality and why you should not use marmots as a model for romantic advice.

Anatomy & Hibernation: The Science of Chonk

Size and Weight
- Marmots are about cat-sized; Himalayan marmots are the largest. Groundhogs can weigh up to 15 pounds (7 kg) and are up to 2ft long.
True Hibernators:
- Marmots, not bears, are the "kings of hibernators.” Bears only “aestivate.” Marmots can burn as little as a gram of fat per day while hibernating.
- Their fat is both insulation and "heating oil," thanks to specific diets.
Biomedical Insights:
- Understanding marmots’ ability to become obese without ill health informs obesity research in humans.

Notable Quote (07:03):

"Biomedical researchers study marmots in part to understand how you can be obese without having health consequences."
– Dr. Daniel Blumstein

Distribution and Behavior

Where Marmots Live:
- Across Northern Hemisphere, in North America and Eurasia.
- Groundhogs: From Georgia to Alaska, less efficient hibernators, thus chunkier.
Predators and Plague:
- Marmots have to contend with many predators (hawks, foxes, badgers, even snow leopards).
- Plague (Yersinia pestis) is historically significant; some Eurasian marmots co-evolved with it, prairie dogs (relatives) did not, leading to die-offs.

[13:46] Plague & Fieldwork Dangers

▶️ Fleas and plague are a persistent problem in fieldwork and can wipe out populations.

Groundhog Day: Holiday, Myth & Meteorology

Origins:
- Groundhog Day is a hybrid pagan and European custom marking the midpoint between winter solstice and spring equinox. Germans in Pennsylvania swapped hedgehogs for local hibernators—groundhogs—as weather predictors.
Scientific Accuracy:
- Groundhog predictions are less accurate than a coin flip (over 60% wrong!).
Myths and Scandals:
- Tales such as open-casket rodent funerals, succession scandals (Wiarton Willie), and the swapping of “Phil” groundhogs.

Notable Quote (25:36):

"Freezing their butts off, waiting to worship a rat."
– Dr. Daniel Blumstein, on the Punxsutawney Phil tradition

Marmot Housing: Underground Marvels

Burrow Systems:
- Groundhogs and other marmots create complex burrows with multiple entrances, nurseries, toilet rooms, food storage, and even provide occasional “affordable housing” to other species like skunks or snakes.
- Safety and predator avoidance, not food availability, are the main drivers in burrow placement.

[29:19] Underground Architects

▶️ Dr. Blumstein details the design, layout, and survival function of marmot burrows.

Hibernation Biology

Efficiency:
- Marmots can dramatically lower their body temperatures (some arctic species even under 0°C—“antifreeze marmots!”).
Risks:
- High overwinter mortality if animals emerge too soon and encounter scarce food; only ~50% of pups survive their first winter.

Labs & Fieldwork:

Keeping marmots in captivity requires creative problem-solving (they can escape steel-welded cages!); bedding was the missing link for hibernation to occur in labs.

Human-Marmot Parallels: Loneliness, Sociality, and Costs

Social Costs:
- Unlike humans, more social marmots (especially females) have lower survival and less reproductive success.
"The more social animals are, the less likely they are to survive."
– Dr. Daniel Blumstein (42:37)

Groundhog (and Marmot) Reproduction

Mixed Paternity is the Norm:
- Up to 63% of litters can have multiple fathers.
Not Monogamous:
- No “mate for life.” Social systems vary by species; yellow-bellied marmots have multi-female, sometimes multi-male groups.
Infanticide:
- Both males and sometimes females may kill young, mirroring behaviors seen in other mammals.

Notable Story [48:19]:

"The most successful males have had hundreds of babies because they live more than two years and they start screwing their kids."
– Dr. Daniel Blumstein

Marmots, Pollution, and Hormones

Anal-Genital Distance—as a Pollution Signal:
- In rodents, endocrine-disrupting chemicals (plastics) can affect sexual development. In field populations with extremely clean blood, natural variation still affects behavior; pollution could have much larger impacts.

Notable Quote (54:08):

"Marmot blood should be the new standard for non polluted blood. They're living in nature."
– Dr. Daniel Blumstein

Communication: Whistlepigs, Chirps, and Tails

Alarm Calls:
- Marmots make various alarm calls—not true "words" but risk-signaling. Vancouver Island marmots have five distinct alarm calls, possibly simple syntax.
Loose Lips Sink Ships?
- Frequent calling increases the risk of death for callers.

Groundhogs as Pets and Pests

Pets:
- Social species may be tameable, but generally illegal to keep.
- "Why would she leave me?"—a field tale of a marmot “pet” returning to the wild.
Garden Pests:
- Marmots love vegetable gardens. Exclusion is tough—deep/strong fences needed.
- Dr. Blumstein’s advice: try to enjoy sharing your garden or use barriers, perhaps offer “sacrificial” plants for the marmots.

Marmotology Myths & Listener FAQs

Do Woodchucks Chuck Wood?

"I don't even know what chucking wood is... Beavers are the lumberjacks of nature."
– Dr. Daniel Blumstein (57:23)

The “woodchuck” name likely derives from an Algonquian word.
In reality, groundhogs excavate 700 lbs (320 kg) of soil—not wood—a day.

Dogs & Groundhogs

Dogs’ predatory chase instinct kicks in with groundhogs, but marmots are adept at dashing back to burrows.

Diet

Marmots are primarily herbivores; may eat some insects incidentally, but don’t eat bird eggs.

Are They Good Parents?

Varies widely by individual and species; some maternal care, not much from dads, and lots of variation, with some mothers being inattentive.

Communication

Marmots use chirps, whistles, and tail signals—no evidence for “words,” but they effectively communicate danger and risk to others.

Notable Quotes

On Sociality:
"Turns out that many ways we're looking at sociality, the more social animals are, the less likely they are to survive. ... So there are some benefits of sociality, but we are also finding lots of costs of being too socially integrated with others."
– Dr. Daniel Blumstein (42:37)
On Fat Marmot Week:
"I would launch a Fat Marmot Week. ... We're talking about starting a Fat Marmot Week."
– Dr. Daniel Blumstein (34:04)
On Career and Science:
"I love my job. I have the best job in the world—getting funding for it."
– Dr. Daniel Blumstein (74:35)
On Following Your Inner Marmot:
"Basically you have to follow your inner marmot. That's my advice."
– Dr. Daniel Blumstein (77:12)
On Marmot Chilling:
"Picking up a living furry stone is not in the physics that I've been taught."
– Dr. Daniel Blumstein (10:25)

Timestamps for Major Segments

Memorable Moments

Allie walks into the interview having spilled iced tea on herself (03:04)—setting a relaxed tone of authenticity and humor.
Dr. Blumstein recounts the logistical puzzles and wild escapes in marmot captivity experiments (12:28).
Listener Francesca describes a “commune” of groundhogs in Kentucky, leading to a discussion on marmot sociability and risks (39:21).
Discussion of bizarre marmot festival scandals—dead groundhogs, open-casket funerals, and “drama in the marmot world” (24:58).
A whimsical debate on how much wood a woodchuck could chuck gives way to scientific facts about marmot excavation (57:23).
Dr. Blumstein’s life advice: “Follow your inner marmot.” (77:12)

Conclusion

Further Resources

Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (Dr. Blumstein’s charity of choice)
Smologies: Kid-/classroom-safe versions of podcast episodes
Papers, studies, and videos: Linked at alieward.com/ologies/marmotology

"This is one time where television really fails to capture the true excitement of a large squirrel predicting the weather."
– Dr. Daniel Blumstein (80:53)

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Summary

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Marmots 101: Taxonomy, Species, and Social Structure

[04:18] Meet Dr. Daniel Blumstein

Anatomy & Hibernation: The Science of Chonk

Notable Quote (07:03):

Distribution and Behavior

[13:46] Plague & Fieldwork Dangers

Groundhog Day: Holiday, Myth & Meteorology

Notable Quote (25:36):

Marmot Housing: Underground Marvels

[29:19] Underground Architects

Hibernation Biology

Labs & Fieldwork:

Human-Marmot Parallels: Loneliness, Sociality, and Costs

Groundhog (and Marmot) Reproduction

Notable Story [48:19]:

Marmots, Pollution, and Hormones

Notable Quote (54:08):

Communication: Whistlepigs, Chirps, and Tails

Groundhogs as Pets and Pests

Marmotology Myths & Listener FAQs

Do Woodchucks Chuck Wood?

Dogs & Groundhogs

Diet

Are They Good Parents?

Communication

Notable Quotes

Timestamps for Major Segments

Memorable Moments

Conclusion

Further Resources

Summary

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Marmots 101: Taxonomy, Species, and Social Structure

[04:18] Meet Dr. Daniel Blumstein

Anatomy & Hibernation: The Science of Chonk

Notable Quote (07:03):

Distribution and Behavior

[13:46] Plague & Fieldwork Dangers

Groundhog Day: Holiday, Myth & Meteorology

Notable Quote (25:36):

Marmot Housing: Underground Marvels

[29:19] Underground Architects

Hibernation Biology

Labs & Fieldwork:

Human-Marmot Parallels: Loneliness, Sociality, and Costs

Groundhog (and Marmot) Reproduction

Notable Story [48:19]:

Marmots, Pollution, and Hormones

Notable Quote (54:08):

Communication: Whistlepigs, Chirps, and Tails

Groundhogs as Pets and Pests

Marmotology Myths & Listener FAQs

Do Woodchucks Chuck Wood?

Dogs & Groundhogs

Diet

Are They Good Parents?

Communication

Notable Quotes

Timestamps for Major Segments

Memorable Moments

Conclusion

Further Resources