Alaska's Fat Bear Week Kicks Off with Fat Bear Jr. Contestants Revealed

Fans gear up for the annual celebration of Katmai National Park's brown bears as they bulk up for winter hibernation.

Fat Bear Week officially begins on October 2, with online voting for the chunkiest bears in tournament-style brackets.
The four cub contestants for this year's Fat Bear Jr. contest were announced, including past champions from 2022 and 2023.
An emotional favorite is a spring cub of Grazer, the 2023 Fat Bear champ, whose sibling died in a tragic waterfall accident.
Adult male brown bears in Katmai can weigh over 1,000 pounds by hibernation time, after feasting on sockeye salmon all summer.
The adult contestants for Fat Bear Week will be revealed on September 30, with voting running from October 2 to October 8.