For the inaugural time, Fat Bear Week introduces noteworthy mother bears and their adorable cubs.
The yearly bracket-style competition, managed by Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve, commemorates the park’s robust brown bears, feasting on salmon from the Brooks River to bulk up before their winter hibernation.
Alaska naturalist Mike Fitz shared with host Nil KÓ§ksal of As It Happens that this year witnessed a record number of bear families at the river.
“We observed an increase in bear families at the river this year, prompting us to highlight five mother bears and their cubs in Fat Bear Week to showcase their stories, as a cub’s health and size are direct reflections of the mother’s dedication,” Fitz explained.
Competitor Bear 910 in Fat Bear Week is the offspring of former champion, Beadnose. (C. Loberg/Fat Bear Week)
Fat Bear Week originated in 2014 and has gained significant popularity since, inspiring similar endeavors, such as Fat Marmot Week in Colorado.
Last year saw over 1.7 million votes cast, and this year’s turnout is expected to surpass that, as stated by Fitz, a former Katmai National Park ranger now serving as the resident naturalist for Explore.org, a key organizer of the competition.
The event showcases 16 bears or bear families in a single-elimination, bracket-style tournament.
With a bountiful salmon run this year, the competition intensifies.
Chunk’s Title Defense
The reigning champion to beat is Chunk, also known as Bear 32, a fan favorite with multiple previous wins. <a class="link-_o8iA html-anchor" href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/can
