LISTEN | Q&A with naturalist Mike Fitz:
For the first time, Fat Bear Week is showcasing mother bears and their cubs.
Run by Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve, the annual contest highlights the park’s robust brown bears that feast on salmon from Brooks River to bulk up before winter hibernation.
Alaska naturalist Mike Fitz mentioned, “This year, we witnessed more bear families at the river than ever before.”
“To share these stories, we are featuring five mother bears and their cubs in Fat Bear Week, emphasizing the crucial role of mothers in the health and growth of cubs,” he explained.
Competitor Bear 910 in Fat Bear Week is the offspring of former champion, Beadnose.
Fat Bear Week inception was in 2014, gaining popularity and inspiring similar events like Fat Marmot Week in Colorado.
Exceeding 1.7 million votes last year, the team expects higher participation this year, shared Fitz, a former ranger at Katmai National Park now serving as the resident naturalist for Explore.org, a contest co-sponsor.
The competition involves 16 bear contenders in a bracket-style tournament fueled by a bountiful salmon run, intensifying the challenge.
Chunk retains his title
Chunk, aka Bear 32, the reigning champion, captured last year’s victory at a staggering 1,200 pounds despite a broken jaw.
Fitz highlighted potential newcomers to watch this year, such as Bear 151, also known as Walker.
“He’s consistently gaining weight each year, evolving into a robust bear,” Fitz described, emphasizing Walker’s unique physique.
Backpack, once a wounded adolescent, now a formidable