That’s one big apex predator! Fat Bear Week is coming!
By Jack Aylmer (Anchor), Evan Hummel (Producer), Jake Maslo (Video Editor)
As bears plump up for the winter hibernation season, one thing is certain, Fat Bear Week is coming! Beginning on Oct. 2 and going through Oct. 8, fans can pick their favorite chunky bear from a list of the apex predators at Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska.
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The chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on CBC NewsThe chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on Associated Press NewsThe chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on WISH-TVThe chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on WCSHIt’s That Time Again: Alaska’s Fat Bear Week Is Upon Us
Click to see story on NewserCompetition Expected to Be Fierce in Alaska’s Annual Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on Green MattersThe chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on KVIAThe chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on WPLGThe chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on KOB 4The chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on Spectrum Local NewsThe chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on 9NEWS DenverAlaska’s Fat Bear Week nears as Fat Bear Jr. contestants named
Click to see story on WCBDAlaska’s Fat Bear Week nears as Fat Bear Jr. contestants named
Click to see story on Fox8Alaska’s Fat Bear Week nears as Fat Bear Jr. contestants named
Click to see story on WSPAThe chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on WLTXThe chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on WKYCAlaska’s Fat Bear Week nears as Fat Bear Jr. contestants named
Click to see story on KHON2The chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on WBIRThe chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on Krem2 NewsThe chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on KTVBAlaska’s Fat Bear Week nears as Fat Bear Jr. contestants named
Click to see story on WHO-DTThe chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on KESQThe chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on KEYTThe chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on KMIZThe chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on Fort Smith/Fayetteville NewsAlaska’s Fat Bear Week nears as Fat Bear Jr. contestants named
Click to see story on PHL17The chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on KYMARight
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In the meantime, bear fans have to settle for a smaller competition. On Tuesday, Sept. 24, organizers unveiled a sub-competition between bear cubs in this week’s Fat Bear Jr. Contest, in which the “chubby champ” will go on to face those in the adult bracket. The voting ends Friday, Sept. 27, for this contest.
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This year’s Fat Bear Week contestants include two former champs from 2022 and 2023. Park officials assure everyone that these ferocious competitors still qualify as cubs.
According to wildlife officials, most cubs stay with their mother for about 2 1/2 years before heading off on their own.
However, the 2022 champ is a real “momma’s boy,” or maybe an “aunt’s boy,” because he’s bucking the trend of 2 1/2 years. The 2022 champ, known as 909 Junior, is still with his aunt after four years of companionship.
Vote on the “cubtestants” for this competition of little ones here.
As for those waiting for the adult competition, the contestants for the Fat Bear Week Tournament will be announced on Monday, Sept. 30, and voting goes until Oct. 8.
The competition is guaranteed to be huge in more ways than one. Adult male brown bears can bulk up to more than a thousand pounds before hibernation, by scarfing down up to 30 salmon per day, Plus, the competition is wildly popular as well. More than 1.3 million people voted in Fat Bear Week competitions in 2023.
The most dedicated fans can check out the 2,200 bears at the national park through live cameras put up throughout the preserve.
[JACK AYLMER]
THAT’S ONE FAT AAA-PEX PREDATOR AND THAT’S GOOD BECAUSE IT CAN ONLY MEAN ONE THING…
FAT BEAR WEEK IS COMING…
BEGINNING OCTOBER 2ND FANS CAN VOTE ONLINE FOR THEIR FAVORITE CHUNKY BEARS AS THEY BEEF UP FOR THEIR WINTER SLUMBER AT KATMAI NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE IN ALASKA.
THAT MAY NOT BE UNTIL NEXT WEEK… BUT THIS WEEK, ORGANIZERS REVEALED A SUB-COMPETITION BETWEEN BEAR CUBS IN THIS WEEK’S FAT BEAR JUNIOR CONTEST… IN WHICH THE “CHUBBY CHAMP” WILL GO ON TO FACE THOSE IN THE ADULT BRACKET.
THIS YEAR’S CONTESTANTS INCLUDE TWO FORMER CHAMPS FROM 2022 AND 2023.
PARK OFFICIALS ASSURE US THEY STILL MEET THE REQUIREMENTS TO BE CONSIDERED A CUB.
MOST CUBS STAY WITH MOM FOR TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS.
BUT THE 2022, CHAMP, KNOWN AS 909 JUNIOR, IS BUCKING THE TREND.
HE’S FOUR YEARS OLD AND STILL WITH HIS AUNT.
YOU CAN VOTE NOW ON THE CUB CONTESTANTS.
AS FOR THOSE OF US WAITING FOR THE ADULT COMPETITION… THE CONTESTANTS FOR THE FAT BEAR WEEK TOURNAMENT WILL BE ANNOUNCED MONDAY.
VOTING WILL CONTINUE THROUGH OCTOBER 8TH.
AND IT’S GUARANTEED TO BE HUGE… NOT ONLY BECAUSE ADULT MALE BROWN BEARS CAN BULK UP TO MORE THAN A THOUSAND POUNDS BEFORE HIBERNATION… BUT BECAUSE THE COMPETITION IS WILDLY POPULAR, TOO.
MORE THAN ONE-POINT-THREE MILLION VOTES WERE CAST IN LAST YEAR’S COMPETITION.
THE MOST DEDICATED FANS CAN WATCH THE 22-HUNDRED BEARS THROUGH LIVE CAMERAS PUT UP THROUGHOUT THE PARK.
FOR MORE ON FAT BEAR WEEK– DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT SAN DOT COM.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M JACK AYLMER.
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this dataBias Distribution
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The chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on CBC NewsThe chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on Associated Press NewsThe chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on WISH-TVThe chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on WCSHIt’s That Time Again: Alaska’s Fat Bear Week Is Upon Us
Click to see story on NewserCompetition Expected to Be Fierce in Alaska’s Annual Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on Green MattersThe chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on KVIAThe chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on WPLGThe chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on KOB 4The chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on Spectrum Local NewsThe chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on 9NEWS DenverAlaska’s Fat Bear Week nears as Fat Bear Jr. contestants named
Click to see story on WCBDAlaska’s Fat Bear Week nears as Fat Bear Jr. contestants named
Click to see story on Fox8Alaska’s Fat Bear Week nears as Fat Bear Jr. contestants named
Click to see story on WSPAThe chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on WLTXThe chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on WKYCAlaska’s Fat Bear Week nears as Fat Bear Jr. contestants named
Click to see story on KHON2The chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on WBIRThe chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on Krem2 NewsThe chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on KTVBAlaska’s Fat Bear Week nears as Fat Bear Jr. contestants named
Click to see story on WHO-DTThe chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on KESQThe chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on KEYTThe chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on KMIZThe chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on Fort Smith/Fayetteville NewsAlaska’s Fat Bear Week nears as Fat Bear Jr. contestants named
Click to see story on PHL17The chunkiest of chunks face off in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week
Click to see story on KYMARight
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