This year’s Fat Bear Week introduces mother bears and their adorable cubs into the competition for the first time.
Organized by Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska, the annual bracket-style event showcases the park’s robust brown bears, who feast on salmon from the Brooks River to bulk up before their winter hibernation.
Alaska naturalist Mike Fitz shared, “We observed more bear families at the river this year than ever before.” He added, “To highlight these stories, we have included five mother bears and their cubs in Fat Bear Week, emphasizing the crucial role of mothers in the cubs’ growth and well-being.”
Competitor Bear 910 in Fat Bear Week is the offspring of former champion Beadnose. (C. Loberg/Fat Bear Week)
Fat Bear Week was established in 2014 and has gained popularity, inspiring similar events like Fat Marmot Week in Colorado. Last year, over 1.7 million votes were cast, and this year’s turnout is expected to surpass that, according to Fitz, a former ranger at Katmai National Park now serving as the resident naturalist for Explore.org, a co-organizer of the contest.
Featuring 16 bears or bear families in a bracket-style tournament, this year’s competition is intensified by a plentiful salmon run.
The reigning champion, Chunk (Bear 32), claimed victory last year after reaching a remarkable 1,200 pounds despite nursing a broken jaw.
Fitz highlighted potential contenders to watch, including Bear 151 (Walker), noting his consistent weight gain and unique physique.
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