Polls opened Tuesday for Fat Bear Week, the online contest where brown bears at Katmai National Park compete in head-to-head matchups to determine which has gained the most weight before hibernation. Viewers can watch a Brooks River livestream and review before-and-after photos of the contenders. Last year's champion, Chunk, beat two-time winner Grazer. Launched in 2014, the event now draws over a million votes and highlights brown bear conservation and threats to their habitat.
Voting Opens in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week — Help Crown the Chubbiest Katmai Bear
Voting is open in the annual Fat Bear Week contest in Alaska's Katmai National Park (JOHN MOORE)
Polls opened Tuesday for Fat Bear Week, the playful annual contest that invites people worldwide to vote for the chubbiest brown bear at Katmai National Park as the animals bulk up before hibernation.
How Fat Bear Week Works
Fans can follow a live stream of bears scooping salmon from the Brooks River and browse detailed contestant profiles with before-and-after photos that document each bear's summer weight gain. Organizers pair bears in head-to-head matchups; for each contest, viewers vote for the bear they believe best exemplifies success at fattening for winter. The bear with the most votes advances to the next round until a single champion is crowned.
'For each match-up, vote for the bear you believe best exemplifies fatness and success in brown bears,' organizers said. 'The bear with the most votes advances to the next round. Only one will be crowned Fat Bear Week champion.'
Last year's winner, Chunk, fended off a strong challenge from Grazer, a two-time champion. Summer and early autumn are critical feeding periods for Katmai's brown bears; they typically fast for about five months during hibernation and depend on stored fat to survive the harsh Alaskan winter.
From Viral Fun to Conservation Awareness
What began in 2014 with a few thousand votes has grown into a tongue-in-cheek democratic ritual that now attracts more than a million votes each year. Beyond the humor, Fat Bear Week aims to raise public awareness about brown bears, their habitat in Alaska, and the risks they face from human activities—encouraging support for wildlife conservation and responsible coexistence.
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