Fat Bear Week is back and only the chonkiest bear will be victorious
Fat Bear Week — a week to celebrate the fattest bears in Katmai National Park — is finally upon us.
Twelve bears are up for the title of the fattest bear, and you can vote for your favorite.
The list includes a gigantic male bear, "747," who clinched the crown in 2020.
Fat Bear Week — a March Madness-style vote for the fattest bear in Alaska's Katmai National Park — is upon us again.
On Monday, the park announced on Twitter that Fat Bear Week, a "time where flab is fab and fat is fit," will be kicking off on October 5.
It’s almost #FatBearWeek, a time where flab is fab and fat is fit. Join us for a live chat bracket release at 3pm AK today at https://t.co/Mdvxq19MoP to watch the reveal in real-time, or check social media at 5pm for the bracket.
Photo c/of K. Moore - Bear 32 in July (Yes, July!) pic.twitter.com/UBa07SUJi5— Katmai National Park (@KatmaiNPS) October 3, 2022
The park on Monday also released its official Fat Bear Week bracket, consisting of 12 bears that will be competing for the top spot.
Presenting your Titans of Tub and hulking, hefty heroes! These bears will soon duke it out to see which tanking tummy reigns supreme. Check out their bios and pics at https://t.co/V2bF4olcpu.
Tell us who you think should win (extra points for being punny)! #FatBearWeek pic.twitter.com/ptkXQcLyMW— Katmai National Park (@KatmaiNPS) October 4, 2022
To find out more about the fat bears of Katmai before you cast your vote for the chunkiest bear, visit their profile pages, where they are listed with fetching identifiers like "32 Chunk" and "128 Grazer." Visitors to the park's website for Fat Bear Week can cast a vote once every day, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and skinnier bears will be knocked out of the bracket until the park crowns its champion.
On this year's list is "747," who was the 2020 Fat Bear champion. According to the park, this bear's impressive poundage is "enough to intimidate most bears to yield their space," giving him the "best access to fishing locations and mating opportunities."
Voting for Fat Bear Week starts tomorrow Oct 5th at 9 am Pacific. This contest started in 2014 to raise awareness of the beautiful bears of Katmai National Park in Alaska.
This is my shot of 747, also known as Bear Force One. He was the 2020 champion.https://t.co/1IhDoTIxgN pic.twitter.com/8dJ4GLY6Bg— BlueJayWay.eth - 1/15 Puffin Editions (@BluejaywayEth) October 4, 2022
Not to be overlooked is "480 Otis," Katmai's 2021 Fat Bear Champion, who was also the biggest bear in 2014, 2016, and 2017.
Applause to all the bears, especially this year’s champ 480 Otis, the portly patriarch of paunch! 96,064 of you voted yesterday to make this a successful finale, befitting the festive fun of #FatBearWeek. Thanks to everyone who participated & supported the wonder that is Katmai. pic.twitter.com/nDRk0T63BW
— Katmai National Park (@KatmaiNPS) October 6, 2021
The Fat Bear Week bracket will be narrowed down to two contenders by October 11, after which a champion will be announced.
Meanwhile, those who just want to observe the bears of Katmai National Park can do so via the Brooks Falls bear cam, a solar-powered camera network that shows the bears eating salmon and hanging out in the shallows.
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