Chonky and they know it: Voting starts in Fat Bear Week

 

32 Chunk, known for his girth and a scar on his muzzle, has become one of the most dominant males on the Brooks River. But is that enough for him to win Fat Bear Week?

Cory Cravatta/via Katmai National Park & Preserve

Voting is now officially open in the 2023 Fat Bear Week competition, celebrating the ability of brown bears to pack on weight for their hibernation cycle in Alaska. To do that, they must gobble tons of fish — and luckily, they live near a thriving sockeye salmon run.
"Essentially those fat stores have to keep them healthy from late October till June," when the salmon return to the Brooks River, media ranger Naomi Boak of Katmai National Park and Preserve, told NPR.

"We have some of the largest bears on the planet," Boak said. "The big boars, the biggest guys, can get to be between 1,000 and 1,400 pounds."

But it's not just about the guys. Female brown bears also pack on massive heft, and they do it while raising cubs.

How Fat Bear Week works

The 12 brown bears are placed into a bracket, and voters decide who advances from each matchup. Voting runs from Oct. 4-10. You can cast votes from noon ET to 9 p.m. ET.

"You can follow the bears for years and really get to know their lives and their personalities and their soap operas," Boak said.

"We really love that children and teachers follow the bears," she added. Students can ask questions using a Google form.

Who is your favorite fat bear?

128 Grazer is well-known as a tough bear, competing for the best fishing spots. This summer, without cubs to care for, she has grown to a huge size.

Naomi Boak/NPS

The contest — and yes, we are aware the contestants are refreshingly oblivious, being bears — might seem simple. Just pick the most rotund bear, right?

But many voters often give extra credit to any bear that dramatically went from a gaunt, emaciated creature in the spring to a portly ruler of the river in October. And some bears just gain fans with their quirks and personal stories.