Alie Ward
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Discussion thread: GROUNDHOGS episode is published!
🕑 Added 2026-01-14 20:12:29 +0000 UTC*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
Comments
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?
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
