Fat Bear Week returns — here's when the bulky bracket drops and moreJacqueline KehoeJacqueline Kehoe September 18, 2025 at 6:14 PM Hector Gomez Photography hectorgomezphotography.net via Getty Images It's almost time for nature's most adorable heavyweight championship.
- - Fat Bear Week returns — here's when the bulky bracket drops and moreJacqueline KehoeJacqueline Kehoe September 18, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Hector Gomez Photography - hectorgomezphotography.net via Getty Images
It's almost time for nature's most adorable heavyweight championship. Fat Bear Week 2025 is nearly here, and the internet's favorite autumn tradition is gearing up for its 11th annual celebration of Alaska's most magnificent chonky champions.
The bracket reveal happens Tuesday, September 22nd at 7 p.m. Eastern on Explore.org's YouTube page, where a countdown is already ticking away — the page is live here. Public voting opens September 23rd and runs through September 30th, giving everyone a full week to root for their favorite rotund bear.
This year's competition promises to be fierce (and fuzzy). While the official contestants haven't been announced yet, expect to see returning heavyweights like Chunk, Grazer (the reigning 2024 champion), and Bucky vying for the coveted title. These magnificent beasts have been busy all summer doing what they do best: absolutely demolishing salmon at Brooks River in Katmai National Park and Preserve. (But the fat bears of Fat Bear Junior have been announced!)
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Just how fat are the fat bears?
When they say "fat," they mean gloriously, magnificently fat. Adult male brown bears in Katmai average 700-900 pounds in mid-summer, but the biggest boys can tip the scales at over 1,200 pounds by fall. That's like a small car with paws and an attitude. Female bears are typically one-third to one-half smaller, but don't let that fool you – they're just as impressive in their own right.
What makes Fat Bear Week so captivating isn't just the sheer size of these animals, but their individual personalities. Each bear has developed unique fishing techniques, behaviors, favorite spots, and survival strategies. Some are patient fishers who wait for the perfect moment to strike, while others are aggressive competitors who dominate prime fishing spots through sheer intimidation.
The celebration highlights these incredible creatures' intelligence, adaptability, and individuality while showcasing one of nature's most successful wildlife conservation stories. Thanks to Explore.org's live-stream cameras positioned along Brooks River, viewers worldwide can watch these magnificent bears in action 24/7 at explore.org. (Plus dozens of other cool creatures that also deserve your affection!)
So mark your calendars — and get ready to cheer on your chosen chunky champion of Fat Bear Week 2025.
Source: "AOL Lifestyle"
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