Fat Bear Week

So, what is Fat Bear Week? It’s in the name! Every October, the various ursidae of Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska unwittingly compete for the ultimate title. For one week, fans worldwide vote—sharing some heartfelt and entertaining comments in the process—to find the fattest bear of them all!

Get to know the wild personalities of the Fat Bear Week contenders!

Chunk is a massive, dominant bear who rules with an iron paw and is essentially the bear version of a tyrant. He is one of the fattest bears and runner-up for this year’s fattest bear title.

Walker has access to the best fishing spots as he cunningly steals them. He was a very playful cub but is now a mature adult at Brooks Falls.

Bucky is one of the youngest but is by far the best at fishing, usually resorting to the most impossible locations—like the spot just below the cascading falls at Brooks River, where very few other bears dare to go near.

Gully is a young adult male with the unique strategy of charging into the river to catch fish. He also feeds on any unlucky birds he can get his paws on!

And finally, the fattest bear of 2024…Grazer!
Grazer has one of the most heartbreaking backstories among the Katmai bears. On July 27th, one of her two cubs was killed by Chunk, though she was able to save the other one. Grazer is a courageous mother to three litters (about 9 bears) and the two-time champion of Fat Bear Week.

Scroll down to see some pictures of the bears! (Photo credit: Sita V.)

Grazer’s cub

Grazer and her cubs

Chunk

Two bears fighting