Fat Bear Week 2025: Alaska's Annual Eating Contest Returns
Americans are taking a break from the daily news cycle to focus on Fat Bear Week, the annual competition in Alaska that celebrates the incredible weight gain of brown bears preparing for hibernation. The contest offers a lighthearted distraction and raises awareness about these magnificent creatures.
How Fat Bear Week Works
The contest pits bears against each other in a friendly competition, judged by public vote. These bears, identified by number, gorge themselves on salmon to build up fat reserves for the winter. Voters compare before-and-after photos of bears in Katmai National Park, Alaska, to determine who looks best prepared for the lean months ahead. The competition is organized by Katmai Conservancy and Explore.org.
A Growing Phenomenon
What started as a small online contest in 2014 has grown into a significant event. In 2024, organizers reported that around 1.2 million votes were cast from over 100 countries. The contest highlights the importance of a healthy brown bear population in Alaska and the challenges they face due to human activity.
The Reigning Champion
"Like a bear's body mass in late summer, anticipation for the tournament continues to grow," stated Katmai Conservancy and Explore.org. Last year, 128 Grazer secured her second Fat Bear Week championship, becoming the first mother bear to achieve this feat. Voters are now wondering if she can achieve a three-peat win.
The Importance of Fat Reserves
During late summer and early fall, the approximately 2,000 bears in the park consume up to 100 pounds (45 kilograms) of salmon each day. This massive consumption prepares them for five months of hibernation. During hibernation, they rarely wake to eat, drink, or eliminate waste, emerging in the spring much thinner and in need of food.
How to Vote
Voting for this year's competition is available at explore.org/fat-bear-week and closes at 5:00 pm Tuesday in Alaska (0100 GMT Wednesday). The contest serves as an engaging way to learn about and appreciate these incredible animals and their habitat.
