Katmai National Park Launches Annual Fat Bear Week Competition

Katmai National Park in Alaska unveiled the bracket for Fat Bear Week on Monday, with public voting starting Wednesday. The annual contest celebrates well-fed brown bears preparing for winter hibernation. This year’s competition features 128 Grazer, who won her first title in 2023 and became the first pregnant bear to claim victory in 2024. Fan-favorite 32 Chunk returns after recovering from a summer jaw injury. Bear 609, the 2022 Fat Bear Junior champion, also competes alongside 128 Junior, Grazer’s cub who earned this year’s Fat Bear Junior title. Katmai Park Superintendent Mark Sturm said “The astonishing salmon runs in Katmai are essential to the survival of the park’s ecosystem and brown bears. Fat Bear Week enables people from around the work to actively engage in learning about bears while cheering for their favorite competitor.” (Story URL)