TORONTO — A little chunk goes a long way, at least in Alaska.
The Katmai National Park & Preserve in southern Alaska is once again hosting ‘Fat Bear Week,’ an annual celebration of – you guessed it – fat bears, now in its tenth year. Taking place from Oct. 2-8, the week-long event pits the park’s plumpest bears against each other in tournament-style brackets. And the best part? We all get to vote for our favourite chubster.
But there’s more to the week than just a bear’s thunder thighs; the contest is a reflection of the region’s thriving salmon population, which both bears and the locals heavily rely on. This particular area in Alaska is home to the largest runs of sockeye in the world, a veritable buffet for Yogi and friends – and boy, do they eat up! Every late summer and early fall, they’ll bulk up and gorge on delicious salmon to prepare themselves for winter’s hibernation, during which they’ll lose one-third of their body weight. So around these parts, a fat bear means a successful bear and a healthy, vibrant ecosystem.
To vote, go to www.fatbearweek.org. Each match-up features two brown bears, both portly and proud. There’s no real criteria; basically, you vote for the bear you feel “best exemplifies fatness.” In this single-elimination tournament, only one bear will take home the title of Fat Bear Week champion at the end of the competition.
And if that wasn’t enough cuteness for one week, there was also a Fat Bear Junior competition, which first made its debut in 2021. The chubby cubby contest took place last month on Sept. 26-27, with ‘806 Jr.’ taking home the crown. In true pageant-style commentary, 806 is a male first-year cub with long, shaggy brown fur and a pointed muzzle. He loves salmon, fishing with his mother, and long walks along the shore. To view all the Fat Bear Junior contestants, click here.
But who will reign supreme in the adult category? Cast your votes now at www.fatbearweek.org. Voting ends on Oct. 8. You can view all of this year’s pot-bellied contestants here.
May the meatiest bear win!
