The fat bears are the best.
The big brown bears of the National Park and Preserve are being broadcast on the explore.org webcams, and they have earned internet fame by overcoming intense ursine competition and the harsh realities of succeeding in the wild. The rivers of the Alaskan state are rich in salmon, but it's not easy to survive as an Alaskan bear. The animals have to pack on a lot of fat before the winter famine sets in and they have to stay indoors for six months.
The rankings of the fat bears are similar to the Fat Bear Week competition where the world votes for the fattest of the fat bears.
A fat bear is a thriving bear.
Diver as seen along Katmai's Brooks River in 1997. Credit: Katmai National Park / NPS
Diver is a legend.
The successful bear lived over three decades at the popular fishing ground for bears. His legacy continues after he died around 1999.
Most bears catch fish by waiting for them to jump into the air. Diver used a rare strategy. He masterfully dived, gathering dead salmon on the river floor.
He was able to feed on salmon that was not accessible to most other bears. He was very fat in the fall, which was evidence that diving can be a lucrative fishing style.
Bear 854, Divot, seen with a wire snare wrapped around her neck in 2014. Credit: M. Saxton / B. Plog / NPS
The park rangers spotted a wire snare around the neck of Divot. They concluded that it was cutting slowly into her neck.
An ambitious operation to track Divot via boat, sedate her, and remove the snare was a success.
A female bear is competing with the largest, most dominant males for salmon.
Naomi Boak, the media ranger at the park, said that she is one fierce mama.
Bear 503 fishing atop the Brooks Falls in 2019. Credit: NPS / B. Lutes
bear 503 is one of the largest and most successful bears in the area. It is amazing that he is alive.
His mother abandoned 503 for reasons that are not fully understood. The hapless bear, unable to feed himself, wailed in a tree and soon walked alone, sure to starve or succumb to one of the many threats in the wild.
To the astonishment of park rangers, another mother, bear 435, adopted 503. She nursed him and eventually became his partner.
He looked small and vulnerable in those weeks before he was adopted by Holly, according to Mike Fitz, a former park ranger and resident naturalist for explore.org.
Lurch fishes in Katmai's Brooks River Credit: NPS
The bear world is very competitive. This reality is reflected in what we know of Lurch's life.
Lurch, or bear 814, became one of the largest, most dominant, and imposing bears in the river. He killed other bears and stole fish from other bears.
Lurch cached dead bears under a large pile of dirt and vegetation after the fish run had waned and calories were scarce. He protected the carcasses he would later feed on. It was brutal.
Lurch had a torn apart face, missing ear, and leg injury when he returned to the river. The bear was enfeebled by the consequences of a fight. Lurch is likely dead, but his poignant legacy is unforgettable.
Bear 128, Grazer, photographed in fall 2021. Credit: A. Willingham / NPS
In the bear world, bigger is usually dominant.
The best fishing spots have dominant bears in them. In recent years, the female bear has established fishing territory while surrounded by some of the largest, often male bears. Observers have watched her aggressively charge or fight bears that invaded her space.
There is an argument to be made that she is as dominant as the biggest adult males at the river.
Bear 410 snoozing on a Katmai beach in 2018. Credit: D. Kopshever / NPS
One of the most successful bears was a snoozer.
A brown bear named Bear 410 lived for 30 years. 20 is a pretty old bear. She was always one of the fattest bears and a top Fat Bear Week competitor. Rangers haven't seen her in a while, so there's a chance she died.
She would eat fish and take long naps on the beach, despite the busy visitor season and loud floatplanes overhead. She was a champion.
Otis' impressive 2021 transformation. Credit: N. Boak / C. Spencer / NPS
Bear 480, Otis, is perhaps the most famous bear on the planet.
The elder bear has a very effective fishing style. He does not run for fish. He is often seen on the livestreamed webcams looking into the water. He has been mused about as being lazy or unfocused. While Otis occasionally appears to be napping or not paying attention, most of the time he is focused on the water and experiences a high salmon catch rate as a result.
In seven weeks, Otis transformed from a gaunt bear to a fat bear. He was crowned the Fat Bear Week champion.
He was the leader we needed.
Bear 856 eating fish in the Brooks River Credit: M. Fitz / NPS
Bear 856 has been the most dominant of the fat bears.
He is not the largest. He has dominated through aggression. In 2020 it was noted that Bear 856 is so dominant that he rarely needs to fight. His presence intimidates other bears. When 856 shows up at the river, he often displaces bears, meaning they move off to another fishing spot or leave the river altogether. He tolerates the presence of other bears.
After many years of maintaining his place atop the hierarchy, another large male was displaced in 2021. We will see if 856 regains his status.
Bear 747 devouring salmon in the Brooks River. Credit: B. Mosbrook / NPS
Bear can barely walk because he eats so many fish.
He is the fattest bear among all of the bears from the Brooks River. The most dominant bear of the year will likely continue his dominance in the years to come.
"I feel a special bit of privilege to witness a bear as big as he."
He is the fattest and largest bear I have ever seen.
Holly, the 2019 Fat Bear Week champion. Credit: L. Carter / NPS
Holly has achieved great things in her life.
She has successfully raised many children. She has had five liters so far.
She set up a thriving life for an abandoned, helplesscub she adopted.
She is one of the fattest livestreamed bears. Holly is over the age of 20 years old.
She is a champion.
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