Fat Bear Week — a time to celebrate the chunkiest of mammals as they plump up for hibernation — is set to begin Wednesday, but the ferocious drama has already begun.
The annual contest hosted by Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska features a March Madness-style bracket of bears where people can vote for their favorites to win. Single-elimination rounds will end with a Fat Bear champion at the conclusion of the week. In addition to voting and advocating for their favorite bear, enthusiasts can also watch livestreams from cameras of the bears bulking up from the abundant salmon supply along the Brooks River.
“National parks like Katmai protect not only the wonders of nature, but also the harsh realities,” officials said. “Each bear seen on the webcams is competing with others to survive.”It’s also not the first time deadly bear fights have been captured on the livestream cameras.The offspring of last year’s champion, 128 Grazer, was killed by a dominant adult male known as 32 Chunk over the summer. Grazer tried to save its cub by fighting off Chunk, but the cub later died.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Fat Bear Week postponed due to bear-on-bear murderThe National Park Service's annual bracket for big, beefy bears will now be announced Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET.
Read more »
Fat Bear Week delayed after a large bear kills a rival bearThe scene was relayed by a live webcam of bears on Alaska's Brooks River. “This is very difficult to watch and comprehend,” said Naomi Boak of the nonprofit Katmai Conservancy.
Read more »
Fat Bear Week bracket delayed because of bear kill, Brooks River corridor closed to fishingThe death of a bear in the Brooks River in Katmai National Park prompted the National Park & Preserve to postpone the bracket reveal until Tuesday afternoon.
Read more »
Bear death caught on camera postpones Fat Bear Week plans: 'Harsh realities'A grizzly bear was killed Monday during a fight with another bear in Alaska's Katmai National Park.
Read more »
Fat Bear Week Lumbers Into View As Beefy Bruins Bulk Up For WinterAmanda Kooser is a New Mexico-based journalist who covers quirky and unusual science stories. She’s explored a mushroom growing on a frog, perfume for dogs and strange rocks on Mars. As a freelance writer, Kooser has delved into gadgets, geek culture, public schools, weird foods, transatlantic travel, broadband and Route 66.
Read more »
The chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska's Fat Bear WeekAn Alaska national park’s annual celebration of the beefy, brown and bristly is getting underway as some of the chunkiest bears on the planet fatten up for their long winter slumber. Fat Bear Week doesn’t officially start at Katmai National Park until Oct. 2.
Read more »