Read, Watch or Listen

Katmai National Park's annual Fat Bear Week competition begins September 23rd. The public votes daily (12pm-9pm ET) to determine the fattest brown bear from a single-elimination bracket. The competition, showcasing bears preparing for hibernation, highlights the importance of salmon runs to the ecosystem and educates viewers about bear survival strategies. Voting occurs online via photo selection, with one vote per email address allowed.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.