Who’s the Fattest of Them All? Katmai's Fat Bear Week Brings a Celebration of Survival Amid Nature's Realities

For months, brown bears at Katmai National Park have been bulking up, driven by the relentless cycle of survival. Their transformation takes center stage during Fat Bear Week, a unique competition that pits 12 bears against one another in a bracket-style contest. 

Now in its tenth year, the bear competition festival highlights the strength and resilience of the 2,200 brown bears that inhabit the park. 

From a selected lineup, the public casts votes to choose their favorite "fat bear," celebrating the bears' remarkable seasonal weight gain. 

What began nearly a decade ago as a modest event has evolved into a global phenomenon. Last year, Fat Bear Week attracted its largest participation yet, with more than 1.3 million people from over 100 countries voting for their favorite bear. 

In mid-summer, adult male brown bears typically weigh between 600 and 900 pounds. As they feast on migrating and spawning salmon—devouring up to 30 fish per day—their weight can surpass 1,000 pounds by the time they are ready to hibernate. Female bears, however, are usually about one-third smaller. 

"It's a chance to share their stories with a global audience while also celebrating Katmai's thriving ecosystem," said Mike Fitz, a resident naturalist with Explore.org, which livestreams the bears at Katmai’s Brooks River Falls. 

Among the contenders are several fan favorites and some newcomers, including Grazer, last year’s Fat Bear Week champion. Grazer has gained popularity due to her commanding presence and impressive size, often challenging and displacing male bears in the park. 

Although named Fat Bear Week, the bears aren’t the only stars of the Alaska wildlife event. Fitz emphasizes that Katmai’s sockeye salmon runs are the most robust and expansive in the world. Without these essential fish, there would be no Fat Bear Week to celebrate. 

“Brooks River is part of the Bristol Bay salmon run, which is one of the last, probably the last, great salmon runs left on Earth,” Fitz said. “To share the story of this sustainable fishery and what salmon bring to ecosystems is a powerful message to convey to the world.”

“This is an event, an election where all of the bears deserve a vote," Fitz added. "Despite what you see in local and national politics, you may feel apathetic or dissatisfied with the candidates available, but every Fat Bear Week bear is certainly worthy of your vote.” 

A Bear's Death on Livestream Delays Contest. 

Organizers revealed this year's contestants a day later than planned because one anticipated participant, a female known as Bear 402, was killed in a fight with a male bear. 

Fat Bear Week live show with Brian Byrd and Mike Fitz.

Cameras installed in the park to livestream bear activity throughout the summer captured the fatal encounter, along with footage of a male bear killing a cub that fell over the waterfall in late July. 

“National parks like Katmai protect not only the wonders of nature but also the harsh realities,” said park spokesperson Matt Johnson in a statement. “Each bear seen on the webcams is competing with others to survive.” 

Explore.org, which streams unedited bear footage from the park and helps organize Fat Bear Week, held a live discussion about the bear’s death. Katmai National Park ranger Sarah Bruce noted that the cause of the bears' altercation is still unknown. 

Online voting for Fat Bear Week began on Wednesday and will continue until October 8. You can cast your vote for your favorite fat bear and track the bracket results at Explore.org.