The bears of Katmai National Park in Alaska have been eating as much as they possibly can all summer, and now it's almost time to judge the results. For brown bears in Alaska, getting fat is an important accomplishment, because when winter comes and they go inside their dens to sleep, there won't be much food available. A good layer of fat will help them survive to emerge next spring, and for females, it's crucial to be healthy enough to support a pregnancy. Bears will eat almost anything, but the salmon in Brooks River helps them pack on hundreds of pounds.
During Fat Bear Week, which begins Wednesday October 4th and runs through Tuesday the 20th, your voting will determine the winner in a series of tournament-style matchups. Which bear has gained the most weight? Which bear looks the fattest to you? It's kind of difficult to get them to come in and be weighed, so it's up to you and your observations.
A lot of people have been monitoring the bears at the park's webcams, and already have their favorites. During the live bracket reveal, park rangers explained how bears are selected for the tournament. First, they have to gain weight during the summer. Second, they tend to select bears who have overcome obstacles or otherwise have a good story. And third, the bears have to show up to get a picture taken so we can see their weight gain. Bears who stay hidden cannot compete. The first two matchups will be Wednesday, between two subadult bears named 806 Jr. and bear 428, and the familiar mother bear 402 vs. first-time mother 901. Fan favorites Chunk and Grazer are back, and three-time champion 480 Otis earned a bye. The "meet the bears" page has been updated, so you can read up on this year's contenders, and bookmark this page to place your vote each day for the tournament bracket matchups.