Here on Alaska’s southwest peninsula, the bears are fat, the leaping salmon that they feast on each summer are bountiful, and the staff of Katmai National Park say, “Hurray, what a wildlife success story!”
Thus began a celebration of fat bears in the form of an annual competition to name the fattest bear of all within the park. Inaugurated in 2014, it was dubbed Fat Bear Week and takes place each fall. This year, from Oct. 5 through Oct. 8, voters chose the champion of Fat Bear Week 2024.
In the summer, brown bears pack on some serious pounds as they hunt the salmon that leap up Brooks River and Brooks Falls to spawn upstream. The park names and numbers each bear. Last year’s famous mamma bear champion, Grazer (No. 128), has been known to hunt throughout the night, while her rival Chunk (No. 32) managed to gobble down 42 salmon in 10 hours. Before-and-after photographs provided by the park show how these brown behemoths balloon in size. Voters online choose the winners in an elimination-style competition series.
Grazer was a tour de force this year, as last, though the hunt came at a cost. The prolific mamma bear, who has had three litters, lost one of her cubs to rival fat bear Chunk, who battled with her in last year’s championship finals. As she and two of her cubs hunted at Brooks Falls this year, one cub fell down the waterfall and was swept downstream, where Chunk took a swipe at it. The cub later died. Grazer’s surviving cub went on to compete in Fat Bear Junior 2024.
But sadly, Chunk’s summer gorging wasn’t enough to claim the title. For the second year in a row, the final round culminated in a faceoff between Chunk and Grazer. Grazer was again crowned champion Fat Bear. This is her second consecutive victory.
Other notable contenders included dark brown, pear-shaped brown bear Walker (No. 151). Walker was also playful as a youth but changed as he grew up. He now “shows much less tolerance for other bears,” according to the park. He’s known to displace other bears from his preferred fishing spot, including long-time rival 856. Walker’s confidence is matched only by his ample size.
Another mother bear, 504, debuted in this year’s tournament. A strong maternal demeanor led this robust mamma to rear a litter that has stayed close by her side for three seasons, giving them time to grow large under her additional guidance, protection, and leadership.
The aptly named 747 is a massive adult male with dark fur and a blocky muzzle. He’s highly recognizable because both of his ears are badly damaged, probably due to fights with other bears. When 747 was a cub, he was unable to compete with other bears, but he soon became a “giant among bears,” the park writes. Once estimated to weigh 1,400 pounds, 747 is still very dominant despite being over 20 years old.
Though he successfully fended off this year’s challenges from 856, who tried to displace him, he failed to do likewise when he faced Chunk. Might 747 be feeling the effects of age?
