No voter registration is needed for this popular online annual election to choose the supreme Fat Bear at Alaska’s Katmai National Park, to be crowned on Oct. 8.
In an autumn election that attracts well over 1 million ballots every year, voters from more than 100 countries will choose who will be crowned this year during Fat Bear Week at Katmai National Park.
The 11 bear contestants for this 10th annual contest include 32 Chunk, 128 Grazer, 151 Walker, 164 Bucky, 284 Electra, 402, 428, 435 Holly, 480 Otis, 747 and 901.
Contenders in the Fat Bear Junior competition include 806 Spring Cub, 901’s Spring Cub, 910’s Adopted Niece and 910’s Yearling.
Katmai National Park’s brown bears are some of the world’s largest bears. Adult male bears average 700 to 900 pounds by mid-summer and by late summer and fall the biggest males often weigh more than 1,200 pounds. Adult female bears average smaller sizes by one-third to one-half, largely due to the energetic costs of raising cubs.
Brown bears are omnivores — they have been documented eating dozens of different plant and animal foods in Katmai, and salmon are especially important. These bears gather at Brooks River to fish for sockeye salmon between late June and late October to gain enough fat to survive their hibernation in the winter months.
Meet the competing bears online at https://explore.org/meet-the-bears, including:
- -32 Chuck, who last year ranked among the river’s largest and most dominant males;
- -128 Grazer, a female with a long straight muzzle and conspicuously blond ears, often considered to be one of the fattest bears at the Brooks River fishing grounds;
- -And 435 Holly, whose appearance somewhat resembles the shape and color of a lightly toasted marshmallow.
Holly’s life in particular has been full of hardship, surprises and success. She raised an injured yearling cub, now known as 89 Backpack, who continues to roam the Brooks River. Then in 2014 Holy adopted a lone yearling cub into her family, whom she raised alongside her biological cub, weaning them both in the spring of 2016. Both are now successful adults — 503 and 719. Holly’s spring cub in 2020, now identified as Bear 335, suffered from porcupine quill in a front paw, but when Holly returned in 2021 her cub appeared to be fully healed. Holly was the 2019 Fat Bear Week champion.
Otis was between 4 and 6 years old when he was first identified in 2001 and he is now one of the older male bears at Brooks River. He faces strong competition from younger adult males for preferred fishing spots, and like many older bears, Otis must also persevere through the poor condition of his teeth. He is missing two canine teeth and many of his other teeth are very worn.
When Otis arrived at Brooks River in late July this year he was emaciated with hip and rib bones visible under his skin. For his salmon dinners he stuck to what he knows works best: Patience and persistence. Otis sat or stood at the falls and just waited for salmon to come to him, just as he always has, and it worked. By summer’s end Otis had substantial body mass.
Otis has won more Fat Bear titles than anyone. He was the inaugural Fat Bear Tuesday campion in 2014 and Fat Bear Week champion in 2016, 2017 and 2021.
There’s something special about each of these contestants, so read all their biographies and choose your favorite Fat Bear. Also check out the live cams on Explore.org or visit Katmai National Park online at https://www.nps.gov/katm/index.htm to learn more about these animals.
