Meet the 2025 Fats Bear Week contenders as Alaska nationwide park kicks off voting

The bracket for Fats Bear Week 2025 has been revealed, and 12 bears at Katmai Nationwide Park and Protect in Alaska are on the lookout for votes from everywhere in the world — however just one can be topped the champion of the fats bears. 

For greater than a decade, the Fats Bear Week contest has been highlighting a few of the largest brown bears on the planet residing alongside Brooks River contained in the nationwide park as they put together for hibernation. The annual vote for fattest bear of the 12 months begins Tuesday, Sept. 23, and can proceed by means of Sept. 30. Individuals can vote on-line between 12 and 9 p.m. ET every day.

Bear lovers can even watch the fattened animals of their pure habitats in a sequence of livestreams on Discover.org, a multimedia group that companions with the Nationwide Park Service to host the bear competitors.

What’s Fats Bear Week?

Fats Bear Week started in 2014 as a one-day occasion, Sarah Bruce, a park ranger at Katmai Nationwide Park and Protect, informed CBS Information.

“It is a actually nice option to type of showcase these bears that we’ve in southwest Alaska,” Bruce mentioned. “It is very tough to get to, so the cameras and Fats Bear Week make this park extra accessible for folk who’re unable to go to.”

It was began by Discover.org resident naturalist and former park ranger Mike Fitz, who noticed the scale distinction within the park’s bears from late June to July — when they’re most energetic alongside the river — in comparison with later in September.

How fats do the bears get?

Scientists have estimated that the bears can pack on as a lot as 700 kilos as they get able to hibernate for the winter, Bruce mentioned. Meaning the bears can find yourself weighing greater than 1,400 kilos.

“They get tremendous fats, and it is actually essential to get fats. A fats bear is a wholesome bear,” she defined. “In order that they’re consuming a couple of 12 months’s price of meals throughout the span of 5 to 6 months. After they go into hibernation, they don’t seem to be consuming anymore, in order that they survive on their fats shops.”

And what does the winner of Fats Bear Week get?

“Their prize is successful and surviving one other winter season, which is essentially the most tough season for these bears,” Bruce mentioned.

Meet the 2025 Fats Bear Week contenders

Fats Bear Week contenders had been introduced throughout a livestream on Monday with out challenge, after final 12 months’s bracket reveal was postponed following a skirmish between two Alaskan grizzlies that led to the demise of one of many animals.

Whereas round 80 bears frequent the Brooks River throughout their energetic season, 12 bears are chosen for Fats Bear Week due to sure standards, together with whether or not there are earlier than and after images of the bears, park ranger and photographer Ashleigh Monaco mentioned Monday.

Fitz mentioned the competitors is subjective and voters can place their vote for his or her favourite bear.

These are the bears vying to be this 12 months’s champion:

128 Jr.

Fats Bear Jr. winner 128 Jr., or “Biggie,” is the offspring of 128. The darkish fur bear is about 1 1/2 years outdated. She had a sibling who was unable to outlive final summer season, in line with Monaco.

“Whereas it’s tragic that that cub did not survive, it simply goes to point out 128’s energy and resiliency in overcoming the challenges of residing on the Brooks River herself,” Monaco mentioned.

609

Going in opposition to 128 Jr. within the bracket’s first quadrant is 5-year-old 609, the daughter of 909 and the champion of Fats Bear Jr. 2022. She has noticeably massive spherical ears and an extended nostril.

602

Both 128 Jr. or 609 will face off in opposition to 602, a beginner to the competitors. 

He loves lounging and taking lengthy naps by the river, Monaco mentioned, and he dominated the class of measurement and energy this summer season. Nicknamed “Move-tato,” 602 is usually noticed doing “a bit stomping dance,” presumably a response to excessive adrenaline or pleasure.

503

Within the bracket’s second quadrant is 503. The 12-year-old is resourceful, playful and tolerant, permitting the youthful bears to typically take his leftovers.

901

This 7-year-old bear has “by no means been fatter,” mentioned Naomi Boak, a media ranger at Katmai. In 2023, 901 had three cubs, however none of them survived. 

“However she’s again, and she or he’s large,” Boak mentioned, including that cubs may very well be in her future subsequent season.

32 Chunk

Both 503 or 901 must face 32 Chunk, the runner-up of final 12 months’s Fats Bear Week. He was among the many most dominant bears final 12 months, however this 12 months he’s therapeutic from a damaged jaw, presumably from an altercation with one other male over a feminine, in line with Boak. 

“That is a typical damage, and it is not a simple damage to reside with, however he has powered by means of his damage,” Boak mentioned. “He’s fishing and he’s getting fatter than ever.”

26

Within the third quadrant is 26, a mom bear with twins “with loads of power and spunk,” mentioned photographer Christine Loberg.

909

That is the daughter of the 2018 Fats Bear Week champion, 409 Beadnose. 909 loves catching fish by the waterfall, merely catching them together with her mouth.

128

The mom of this 12 months’s Fats Bear Jr. champion is roughly 20 years outdated. Also called Grazer, she stands out together with her blond fur.

99

Bear 99 is identifiable by his chocolate milk-color coat, in line with Bruce. Whereas he is nonetheless fairly younger, he has obtained sufficient fish this 12 months to land him within the fats bear bracket.

856

The subsequent bear within the fourth quadrant is 856, who Bruce known as “the outdated man of the river.” He is one of many oldest bears on the Brooks River.

910

The final 2025 Fats Bear Week contender is 910. She’s described as a rectangle and a cruise ship due to how massive she is.