Fat Bear Week

Katmai National Park, 4.1 million acres nestled in the wilderness of Alaska (approximately 290 miles southwest of Anchorage),[4] serves as the backdrop for the annual Fat Bear Week competition. The national park is home to approximately 2,200 brown bears.[1]

Throughout the summer and fall, the brown bears of Katmai National Park embark on a quest for sustenance, primarily feasting on the sockeye salmon found in the park's rivers.[5] This feeding frenzy allows them to accumulate the critical fat reserves needed to survive months of hibernation. Adult male bears, in particular, can pack on astounding amounts of weight during this period, with some gaining up to 500 pounds (230 kg) or more.[6] By the time hibernation starts in October and November, males may weigh up to 1,200 pounds (540 kg).[6]

These bears are known to consume as much as 120 pounds (54 kg) of salmon in a single day, sometimes catching as many as 30 fish daily.[7] This bountiful feast is vital, as bears generally begin hibernating in October and November,[8] and abstain from eating or drinking until the arrival of spring.[9] This enforced fasting underscores the critical importance of their pre-hibernation weight gain.

Notably, weight gain is not solely a matter of survival but also a necessity for expectant mother bears. Successful pregnancies hinge on the adequate accumulation of fat reserves during the fall months,[10] which give the mothers sufficient energy stores to nurture their cubs through the Alaskan winter.[11]

Fat Bear Week was founded as Fat Bear Tuesday by former park ranger Mike Fitz in 2014.[1][12] He came up with the idea after noting the interest in online livestreams of the bears feeding at the river. Visitors to the national park were asked to review before and after photos of a number of the park's bears and to vote for the fattest bear in a single-elimination tournament. In 2015, the tournament went digital and was extended to a week.[13]

In 2021, a new addition to the Fat Bear Week tradition emerged with the introduction of the Fat Bear Junior bracket.[14] This separate competition features young, chubby bear cubs vying for the opportunity to advance to the main bracket and contend against the more seasoned, hefty bears.

One of the webcams used during Fat Bear Week aided in the rescue of a hiker on September 5, 2023; at 3:15 p.m. a visibly cold and soaked hiker appeared in the webcam frame on Dumpling Mountain seeking help. After viewers notified authorities, park rangers found the hiker near the camera at approximately 6:48 p.m.[15]

Fat Bear Week takes place every October. The event is organized by the National Park Service and Explore.org, and anyone can participate by voting online for their preferred bear.[17]

The competition is intended to raise awareness,[19] help generate interest in conservation,[6] and give people a chance to engage with wildlife via the webcams.[20] Rangers associated with Fat Bear Week have also cited a desire to increase accessibility to the otherwise remote Katmai National Park.[21] Evidence of this positive interaction with wildlife can be seen in the fan groups and pages started on social media groups. One such group even began a charity bracket event organized by Fat Bear fans. The money raised from the buy in was donated to a charity chosen by the bracket winner. One such charity was the Katmai Conservancy.[22]

In 2023, Fat Bear Week occurred from October 4 – October 10.[23]

In 2022, Bear 747, also known as "Bear Force One", was crowned Fat Bear Champion for the second time. He received 68,105 votes, beating runner-up Bear 901 by 11,229 votes.[26] Bear 747 is estimated to have weighed 1,400 pounds (640 kg).[27] Given his huge stature, smaller and less aggressive bears rarely confront 747 for prime fishing grounds, allowing him his pick of dining locations which in turn contributes to his weight gain.[28]

• Official website
• Information at National Park Service website