Alaska’s salmon-feasting bears take on in greatest Fat Bear Week ever

The brown bears in Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska, well-known for embiggening themselves by delighting in salmon in the park’s picturesque Brooks River, are prepared for their yearly closeup. The 2026 Fat Bear Week bracket came out on Friday, beginning a competitors to identify which bear has actually worked hardest to load on pounds for hibernation.

Authorities state fans ought to watch out for indications of a generational shift, showing the vigor of Katmai’s community. And this year’s bracket functions 16 bears, up from 12 recently.

“There are more cubs at Brooks Camp this year than have been seen in a long time,” Park Superintendent Mark Sturm stated in a press release.

“A new generation of fat bears is taking shape, and they’re off to a strong start,” Sturm included, stating his group aspires to see how the young bears establish and suit.

New competitors this year consist of Bear 89, a male called “Backpack.” His label stemmed after an injury he had as a cub required him to ride around on his mom’s back, according to the park’s siteAnother male rival is 151 Walker, among the most dominant bears on the river

This year’s single-elimination competition starts on Tuesday, Sept. 22, when public ballot begins. Ballot stops briefly over the weekend, before a brand-new champ is crowned on Sept. 29.

Audiences can follow the Katmai bears’ exploits on web cams from Brooks River on Explore.orgThe brown bears and cubs fill television screens and computer system displays with fishing, consuming and inter-ursine drama, offering people a much-needed break from considering AI, midterm elections and the economy.

Rather, they can consider the possibilities that in 2015’s winnerthe enormous Bear 32 nicknamed “Chunk,” may once again be called the fattest bear of them all. Weighing in at over 1,200 pounds, Chunk won over citizens in 2015 by devouring regardless of suffering a damaged jaw and even discovering time to have fun with more youthful bears. It was a redemption story of sorts, coming a year after Chunk was villainized by some after eliminating a cub coming from Grazer, the 2024 champ.

Private bears have varying concerns, Katmai National Park Ranger Sarah Bruce stated in an online chat revealing the bracketShe kept in mind that numerous single adult women should assist their cubs get enough calories.

“When you’re voting, consider the challenges of a bear’s life,” Bruce stated. “Trust your gut and go with whatever you think the fattest bear is.”

This has actually been a record-setting year for cubs, stated previous Katmai ranger Mike Fitz, resident biologist at cam business Explore.orgHe states 37 cubs were counted at Brooks River. Numerous cubs are consisted of with their moms in this year’s bracket, such as Bear 806, which embraced an older cub in addition to raising her own cub from this spring. Bruce likewise kept in mind the significance of strength, explaining how Bear 909 has actually gotten ready for hibernation after losing both of her cubs this year.

Before-and-after pictures of the bears highlight the sensational change they go through each year, after emerging gaunt and bony in the spring and expanding from as low as 600 pounds for a man in the summer season as much as more than 1,000 pounds in the fall.

The bears withstand a condition called hyperphagiafeeding a ruthless cravings so they can load on fat they’ll require to make it through the coming winter season. The park utilizes Fat Bear Week to teach the general public and trainees about brown bears, sockeye salmon and their environment. Some 2,200 bears are approximated to reside in Katmai National Park and Preserve’s 4.2 million acres.

Interest in Fat Bear Week, which started in 2014, is worldwide: For in 2015’s contest, individuals cast more than 1.7 million votes from more than 100 nations, according to the park.