Fat Bear Week returns! Once again, wildlife enthusiasts are turning their attention to the brown bears of Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve. This battle of the biggest invites people from all over the world to cast their vote for the fattest bear. With the Fat Bear Junior competition over and 806 Spring Cub reigning supreme, Katmai’s adult bears are ready for their turn in the limelight.
Last year, the competition experienced a minor ballot-stuffing scandal. Thankfully, Katmai easily resolved the incident and announced bear 747 as the 2022 Fat Bear Week champion. Voting for Fat Bear Week 2023 has already begun, and a winner should be crowned after polls close on October 10. While you wait to discover the fate of your favorite bear, bone up on bear trivia with these answers to common Fat Bear Week questions.
Why do people vote for the fattest bear?
Because it’s very fun and delightful. This lighthearted competition began in 2014 when rangers from Katmai National Park and Preserve celebrated “Fat Bear Tuesday” on the park’s Facebook page. The following year, Katmai capitalized on the social media momentum with the first official Fat Bear Week competition. The bracket helps the park engage with followers online while raising awareness and money for the Katmai Conservancy’s Otis Fund.
Who hosts Fat Bear Week?
Katmai National Park and Preserve’s rangers team up with the Katmai Conservancy and explore.org to host Fat Bear Week. If you can’t get enough of Katmai’s cute bears, explore.org offers a livestream of Katmai’s Brooks Falls, where brown bears are often spotted. On October 10, explore.org’s resident naturalist Mike Fitz and Katmai rangers will join the livestream to discuss the 2023 Fat Bear Week winners.
Why are the bears getting fat?
As you can probably guess, these bears are fattening up for hibernation. But what does that mean exactly? The Fat Bear Week homepage explains, “During hibernation, bears do not eat or drink and can lose one-third of their body weight. Their winter survival depends on accumulating ample fat reserves before entering the den. To get fat, bears gorge on the richest and most accessible foods they can find.”
What do the bears eat?
Food is important for bears looking to bulk up before winter. At Katmai National Park and Preserve, brown bears mainly eat salmon. This means that the survival of these bears heavily depends on a healthy local salmon population. To protect brown bears, the Katmai Conservancy also works to protect salmon.
Where can I vote for Fat Bear Week?
You can cast your vote here, on explore.org’s Fat Bear Week hub. Voting closes tomorrow at 9 p.m. EST, so move fast to support your favorite bear. Keep up with the competition through updates on Katmai’s social media channels.
