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Discussion thread: GROUNDHOGS episode is published! (Patreon)

Published:
2026-01-14 20:12:29
Imported:
2026-06

Content

*This episode is published and ready to hear wherever you get podcasts. Let's talk about it.*

WHAT IS A GROUNDHOG? What's their deal? Why do they have their own holiday?

I got myself to UCLA during the winter break and peppered renowned marmot expert Dr. Dan Blumstein with questions about large rodents, their dens, scandals, butts, parenthood, how to celebrate Groundhog Day, romantic advice you should not take, what to do if you want a marmot as a pet, why their blood boggles science, and all the things you can call a groundhog.

You listen yet? Are you ready for February 2nd -- the day of the Groundhog? We can also discuss the movie here, of course.

Crawling out of my hole,

Your Alison Ann Ward

Files

Marmotology (GROUNDHOGS) with Dr. Daniel Blumstein - alie ward

Tongue twisters. Frosty holidays. Scandals. Big ol' rodent butts. Let's talk groundhogs with UCLA conservationist, field biologist, professor and Marmotologist, Dr. Daniel Blumstein. We cover what broadly is a marmot, the Buddhism and paganism of the midwinter slump, marmot parenthood, what they are

Comments

Nichole

The ologist was so funny!

Harper Atlas

I sadly didn’t think of this when questions were open, but when I was a kid my family’s dog chased a groundhog up a tree. Do they normally climb trees?? Or was this one just particularly nimble with a strong will to live?

Harper Atlas

Everyone I talk to is like “what, no that’s not real”. But my whole family witnessed a fat groundhog 12 feet off the ground!

Alie Ward

Such a fun one -- and I love being in person with the Ologists. It's not possible every time, but trying to get back to more of it like pre-Covid.

Lindsay Malone

Marmot whistle of delight! 💖🐿️ I LOVE THIS EPISODE! I learned so much about a family of critters I already knew a fair bit about AND I laughed (which is is so needed in this January 2026). Thank you for discussing burrow architecture! I missed the call for questions, but you naturally dug into the topic. Also, for anyone curious about living with marmots, there's a old-timey book by a Bend, Oregon wildlife photographer called "There's a Marmot on the Telephone" about Joe Van Wormer and family living with a yellow-bellied marmot for time. Keep Marmots Wild, Plump, & Free! 💖🐿️

Fiona Glen

Loved this invitation to follow my inner marmot forever

Focus Shift

Listening now and had to jump in here to comment because I've had boodog in Mongolia, both goat and marmot! My understanding was that the marmot was technically protected and wasn't supposed to be hunted, but by the time I saw it, it was a skin sack filled with meat, potatoes, and hot stones. It was pretty good, too, and no plague!

Macy Kissel

On my hike of Mt. Rainier last June there was a little marmont guy just sitting on a rock right off the trail. No screaming just chilling there letting everyone who passed at a safe distance take photos!

Melissa Quinn

I've seen that too! Same situation, it was escaping a dog. I took a picture because it looked so goofy hugging that tree for dear life.

Melissa Quinn

One gram of fat a day?? That's nine calories a day. That is one eighth of a slice of cheese for an entire day. NASA should be funding this guy. I remember learning in college that hibernating attic ground squirrels would spend a bunch of energy to warm up a couple times a winter, stay that way for a little bit, and then cool back down to around freezing. Scientists couldn't figure out why at first since they weren't eating or pooping during that time, but best they could tell from EEGs was that the squirrels were waking up to sleep/dream.

Marc Rubin

Love to hear an ologist shout out Gunnison Valley and RMBL (Rocky Mountain Biological Lab) in Gothic, CO! Alie - RMBL snd Gunnison Valley would be a great place to visit and interview a bunch of ologists, including a veterinary gerontologist; the ultimate BOGO opportunity! Please do an episode on veterinary gerontology with my lovely wife, Dr Ashley Portmann of Home Together Vet!! https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ8zTA6rVbu/?igsh=eTQzZGpvbHNmYnFt

Lee Wang

Delightful episode! I have questions about winter mortality. If a marmot dies while in torpor, how decomposed does it get once it's surviving hibernators start waking up? Does it become a biohazard, or do the low temperatures prevent that from happening too much? (If they're underground maybe it's an anoxic environment too?) Who hauls out the dead bodies once the weather thaws?

Katelyn Alice

This episode was such a delight! It made me appreciate marmots AND want to know all the hot gossip around Ground Hog Day ground hogs. 👀

Mark Condon

THANK YOU for another fact-packed and simultaneously charming episode, Alie! 🙂 My paganism compels me to add the details of the origin of the “six more weeks of winter if he sees his shadow” thing (courtesy of womenslegacyproject.com): “So we have transformed a mythic but powerful immortal spirit [Cailleach] who leaves her winter shelter half way between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox to gather wood for the rest of the season into a rodent, a marmot. In the old tales, if it is a bright, sunny day, the Cailleach enjoys her gathering time and collects much wood, which will last through the long, extended Winter. If it is a damp, gloomy day, she gathers only a bit of wood if she gathers any at all and Winter will end soon because she has only wood enough in her hut to last but a short time.” “God bless those pagans.” -Homer Simpson

Francesca Huggins

Thanks for asking my question! I got so excited once I saw you were doing this episode because I just HAD to ask about the groundhog hill. Lol

Tom

Strongly suggest artist Sara Wolman (sarawolman.com) to Dr Daniel Blumstein to help kickstart a celebratory fat marmot week inspirational visual art design. Her work is amazing. She is the talented digital format hand and mind of “Fat Bear Week” for Kati Conservancy. Cannot think of a more suited creative and fun visual arts communicator for all ages - go whistle pigs.

Jaclyn and her cat Phil

I’m only 15 minutes into the episode (late listener over here) but I already love this episode! You can tell how passionate the ologist is about these sweet ground squirrel kings 🤍

Wraptile

Really enjoyed this one - them being true hibernators was my favorite topic of the episode. Didn't even know there are such extreme forms of hibernation in mammals - I thought bear sleep is as best as we got - and did a whole dive into this after the episode, really fascinating stuff. Apparently artic ground squirrels go even harder and hold the record at 0C body temp without freezing and bats can reduce their metabolism by 99% 🤯 and here I am struggling while waiting for lunch in my air-conditioned room lol

Harper Atlas

I’m glad at least one other person has experienced this!

Melissa Macias

I know I mentioned this to you in person, but I'm still DYING to know if groundhog bacula look like the horrifying spaghetti scoops their ground squirrel cousins have!! Please find out the answer to this ridiculous question and point me towards pictures. For science, of course.