What's Fat Bear Week?

Fat Bear week is a celebration.

One of the least developed national parks in Alaska is the Katmai National Park. This results in a lake and river with lots of fish and fat bears.

The largest runs of sockeye salmon left on the planet are found in Bristol Bay, Alaska, which is home to more brown bears than people.

Fat Bear Week is an online event organized by the Park Service and wildlife livestreamers explore.org.

Brown bears endure a months-long famine during the winter. Bears will lose 1/3 of their body weight when they are not eating or drinking. Before entering the den, they need to accumulate plenty of fat. Late summer and early fall are when the brown bears are at their fattest.

The public is able to vote for the fattest bear on the explore.org website. There is an hour and a half time. The tournament lasts about a week. The brackets are below

The official 2022 Fat Bear Week bracket. Credit: explore. org / NPS

Bear 32, aka "Chunk," in 2020. Credit: N. BOAK / NPS

The contest is spiced up by the fact that many of the bears in the tournament are well-known. They've been live on camera all summer long, where they fish in strategic spots. Biologists and viewers on the bear cam know the animals' life history and temperament.

Holly is recognized for being an excellent mom. Holly "adopted" an abandoned bear who was about to die in the winter. The place dubbed "Otis' Office" is where the popular bear 480 "Otis" usually catches fish.

Holly and Otis are favored to win the tournament. An animal that grows to over 1,000 pounds by the summer's end is their main competition.

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All of the animals are winners during Fat Bear Week. The bear world is harsh, but sometimes it seems like a utopia for the animals. Bears need to put on hundreds of pounds over the summer months to survive the long winter and avoid danger from other bears.

Bigger means better access to the best fishing spots for males. A woman needs to catch enough fish to support herself and her children. In a world dominated by older, larger, and vastly more experienced bears, younger bears must fend for themselves.

Each bear has its own challenges in order to survive.