Everything You Need to Know About 2023 Fat Bear Week

The fatter the bear, the better the odds at survival. Find out what fat bear week is and why we celeberate it.

Famous Brown Bear 480 Otis at Brooks Falls, AlaskaCredit: Mark_Kostich/Shutterstock

So many reasons to love fall — crisp air, colorful leaves, sweater weather and of course, Fat Bear Week! Each fall, the competition showcases chunky brown bears that are packing on pounds to prepare for winter hibernation.

Brooks River in Katmai National Park, Alaska houses a large population of these hefty bears where the competition takes place. Votes are cast online for the fattest bear in a March Madness-style bracket and the audience helps choose the ultimate victor.

Fat Bear Week remains a fun fall tradition to spread awareness of the brown bears' experiences as they fight for food and survival before Alaska's harsh cold season arrives. It also raises money for bear conservation.

(Credit: Katmai National Park & Presever/explore.com/Katmai Conservancy)

Katmai National Park & Presever/explore.com/Katmai Conservancy

Typically, Fat Bear Week is a single-elimination online tournament in which 12 Alaskan brown bears in Brooks River are chosen to compete. Because ...

Donna Sarkar
Donna has a bachelor's degree in Journalism and Psychology from Marquette University. Her collection of work features deep dives into human psychology as well as the latest health and technology news. Her work has also been published in a variety of newspapers and magazines, including wikiHow, All That's Interesting, Health Digest, and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
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Everything You Need to Know About 2023 Fat Bear Week

The fatter the bear, the better the odds at survival. Find out what fat bear week is and why we celeberate it.

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