Brown bears in Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska, famous for feeding on salmon in the Brooks River, are preparing for their biggest annual competition. This event is known as "Fat Bear Week," where bears compete to determine which bear has gained the most weight for hibernation.
Details of the 2026 Event
Fat Bear Week will begin on September 22, when public voting will start. Voting will stop over the weekend, and the new champion will be announced on September 29. This year sees an increase in the number of participating bears from 12 to 16, indicating a shift in the Katmai ecosystem.
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Mark Storm, the park manager, said: "This year, a large number of cubs are being seen in the Brooks camp, indicating that a new generation of fat bears is forming. Our team is eager to see how these young bears grow and participate in the competition."
New Competitors and Challenges
Bear 89, known as "Backpack," is one of the new competitors this year. The bear's name was chosen due to an injury it sustained as a cub that caused it to ride on its mother's back. Another notable competitor, Bear 151, known as "Walker," is one of the strongest bears in the river.
The bears face various challenges in this competition. Sarah Bruce, a park ranger, highlighted the importance of the bears' living conditions, stating: "When you vote, think about the challenges a bear faces in life. Trust your instincts and choose what you think is the fattest bear."
This year has been particularly unprecedented for the cubs. Mike Fitz, the park's naturalist, announced that 37 new cubs have been observed in the Brooks River. Some of these cubs are participating in the event alongside their mothers, including Bear 806, which has adopted one of the larger cubs.
Before-and-after photos of the bears showcase the dramatic changes they experience each year. These bears appear thin and bony in the spring and gain weight to over 1,000 pounds in the summer. They must eat due to a condition called hyperphagia, which means extreme hunger, to gather the necessary fat for winter.
Fat Bear Week continues to serve as a tool for educating the public and students about brown bears, salmon, and their ecosystem. It is estimated that around 2,200 bears live in the 4.2 million acres of Katmai National Park in Alaska. This event has been held since 2014 and has garnered international interest. Last year, over 1.7 million votes were cast from more than 100 countries in this competition.
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Source: npr.org
