Eva Buto

evie@psu.edu

Staff Writer

It’s that time of the year where the weather is cooling, and bears are getting ready to hibernate. Brown bears in Katmai National Park in Alaska begin to pack on weight by fishing in the Brooks River. Unbeknownst to them, there are webcams set up in a 1.5 mile radius by park rangers to observe the bears. The largest bears are then added to a contest- Fat Bear Week. Animal lovers from around the world vote online for their favorite chubby bear, and the winner is crowned as the fattest bear of them all. These bears can get up to 1000 pounds!

Weight gain is important for the health and safety of brown bears. During their hibernation season, they do not eat or drink for up to 6 months. On top of having to gain enough weight for themselves, female bears also have to take care of their young. Alaskan bears have the benefit of their season to pack on pounds coinciding with the annual sockeye salmon activity. Salmon in the fall months begin to hatch from their eggs laid in the summer months, and the Brooks River is a large spawning area. However, bears are also aware of this, and frequently fish here. Whoever can catch the most fish and guard their supply gains the most weight and is the most likely to survive the winter. Bears do not share food with other bears besides between a mother and her young. They also have a hierarchy, where the biggest and healthiest bears get the best choice of mates and access to fishing spots.

This year’s winner, announced on October 17, 2023, was adult female 128, who was named “Grazer” by the Fat Bear Week community. The blond-eared female has successfully raised two cubs of litters since she came to the park in 2005. This is no easy feat, and Grazer had to climb up the pecking order to secure enough food for her and her young. She is known among other bears for her ferocious attitude, having no issue attacking bears larger than herself to defend her babies. Other bears will even avoid her from year-to-year, afraid of gaining her ire. Grazer can fish in almost any part of the river. On top of her amazing bulk during the warm season, her adaptability and fierce protectiveness of her young won her the competition.

The rangers of Katmai National Park, as well as the park’s avid fans, have grown attached to their bears. People name their bears and root strongly for them. Over a million votes were cast for the 2023 election! There is even a Fat Bear Junior, the title of which was given to bear 806’s cub. The cub has shown remarkable interest in braving the river and adapting to the harsh challenges of the river despite being under a year old. The interest serves as a lighthearted and fun way to get people more educated about wildlife. Katmai National Park works to keep these bears and their habitat safe. Bristol Bay, Alaska is home to Katmai, and bears outnumber humans! It is also one of the few places on Earth that has such an abundant supply of salmon. This event is definitely worth looking into in October, and provides people with a fun way to get involved and educated about wildlife.