Alaska’s Brown Bears Prepare for “Fat Bear Week”
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – It’s that time of year again when Alaska’s brown bears, having spent the summer feasting on salmon, get ready for a friendly competition: Fat Bear Week. This popular online event allows the public to vote for the bear they believe has best prepared for the upcoming winter.
Starting Tuesday, online voters will choose between 11 large brown bears, including “128 Junior,” the cub winner from last week. “128 Junior” is the cub of “Grazer,” a two-time Fat Bear Week champion from Katmai National Park and Preserve hoping for a third victory.
The contest, which started in 2014, highlights the resilience of these bears as they gain weight to survive the winter. They primarily eat salmon from the Brooks River in the remote preserve, about 300 miles southwest of Anchorage. People can watch the bears on explore.org’s livestream cameras before casting their votes.
The 12 bears will compete in a single-elimination tournament, with voting taking place online at www.fatbearweek.org. The winner will be announced on Sept. 30.
Katmai is home to about 2,200 brown bears. To be in the contest, the bears must regularly visit the Brooks Camp area.
The contest includes bears with unique personalities, such as “Flotato,” known for a stomping dance, and another that seems to pledge allegiance while waiting for fish.
While weight is a factor, it’s not the only thing voters consider. Some bears have overcome challenges, like female bears raising their cubs while also trying to gain weight for the winter.
This year, because of a successful salmon run, the bears may be especially large. One bear is even referred to as “cruise ship” due to its size.
