Fat Bear Week Returns to Katmai National Park as Bears Fatten Up for Winter Despite Challenges

Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska hosts the annual Fat Bear Week competition to celebrate brown bears preparing for hibernation.
Online viewers vote on their favorite fat bear from Oct. 4-10 in a tournament-style bracket hosted by Explore.org.
Bears like 747, Otis, and Holly are fan favorites, but all bears face obstacles in consuming enough salmon and other foods.
This year, late salmon runs posed difficulties, but ultimately provided sufficient nutrition for winter survival and fat accumulation.
Fat Bear Week spotlights the bears' resilience and the health of Katmai's ecosystem ahead of their long hibernation period.