Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve celebrated the 12th annual Fat Bear Week on Tuesday, naming Backpack the tournament’s champion. The gentle‑giant brown bear, officially Bear 89, secured over 100,000 online votes, narrowly surpassing runner‑up Bear 910.
How the contest works
Fat Bear Week is a bracket‑style competition that showcases the resilience of the roughly 2,200 brown bears that inhabit the Brooks River area each summer. Voters watch live‑stream footage on explore.org and cast votes at fatbearweek.org. The event highlights how the bears gorge on salmon to build the fat reserves needed for winter hibernation.
Backpack’s rise to the crown
Backpack is the son of former champion Holly, who first introduced him to the river as a cub in 2006. His nickname comes from his habit of climbing onto his mother’s back while swimming. Unlike many large adult male bears, Backpack is noted for his calm demeanor and “quiet strength,” often seen perched on a rock watching the river flow rather than engaging in aggressive bouts.
In the first round, last year’s winner Chunk (Bear 32) was eliminated by Bucky, who later fell to Backpack in the semifinals. The final showdown pitted Backpack against Bear 910, the daughter of former champion 409 Beadnose. Backpack’s steady fan base on Instagram praised his lineage and gentle nature, helping push him over the finish line.
Why the contest matters
The nonprofit that runs Fat Bear Week uses the competition to educate the public about brown bear ecology. Adult male brown bears typically weigh 600‑900 pounds (270‑410 kg) in midsummer, but can exceed 1,000 pounds (454 kg) after a summer of feasting on salmon. The bears may consume up to 30 fish per day, aiming to store enough calories for the six‑month winter hibernation during which they lose roughly one‑third of their body weight.
Family groups also featured prominently this year, with five bear families entering the bracket—a record high. Mother bears must balance feeding themselves and protecting their cubs, a task made more challenging by territorial disputes and occasional food scarcity.
Official response
The National Park Service issued a light‑hearted statement after Backpack’s victory: “We have a CHONKION! The Fat Bear Week crown goes to Bear 89 Backpack. Thank you to everyone who voted, shared, and cheered. Here’s to a successful winter for Katmai’s fat bears!”
Backpack joins a lineage of champions that includes Chunk, who weighed an estimated 1,200 pounds when he won last year. The contest continues to draw national attention, reminding viewers of the vital role salmon and healthy river ecosystems play in supporting Alaska’s iconic wildlife.
Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.
