Vote for the fattest bear of the year! Some of the largest brown bears on Earth make their home at Brooks River in Katmai National Park, Alaska. Brown bears get fat to survive and Fat Bear Week is an annual tournament celebrating their success in preparation for winter hibernation. Matchups are open for voting September 22-29 between 12 - 9 p.m. Eastern / 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Pacific.

This is a single elimination tournament. For each match-up, vote for the bear you believe best exemplifies fatness and success in brown bears. The bear with the most votes advances to the next round. Only one will be crowned Fat Bear Week champion. Meet the bears, fill out your bracket, predict your fat bear winner, and campaign for your candidate.

32 Chunk

Chunk reached about 1,200 pounds in autumn 2025 while nursing a broken jaw that'll never fully heal. He taught himself to fish salmon without full use of it. Two straight runner-up finishes, then his first crown — a win over rival 856 by more than 30,000 votes.

26

This medium-sized adult female has round ears and grizzled brown fur on her neck and back. Her claws are dark in color but paler toward their tips.

Daughter of the famous 435 Holly, this is her first Fat bear Week appearance, and she's showing she's got what it takes.

128 Grazer

Grazer became the first female to repeat as champion in 2023 and 2024. In that second final she beat 32 Chunk — the bear believed to have killed one of her cubs — by more than 70,000 votes to his roughly 30,000.

856

For over a decade, 856 ruled Brooks River. Park staff called him 'hyper dominant.' Now in his mid-20s, he yields prime fishing spots instead of fighting, and he finished runner-up to Chunk in 2025.

Once the top bear at Brooks River, Bear 856 ruled with force, but now he's a bit more strategic in his approach. Even though the younger bears are getting bigger, 856's intelligence and adaptability keep him in the game.

901

This is a medium-sized and fat adult female. Bear 901 has blond-rimmed, triangular ears. Her fur is golden brown in early summer and grizzled brown in late summer.

With extra fat reserves, 901's poised for success in the future, and she's got the experience to raise a healthy litter.

609

This nearly five-year-old female bear has uniformly brown body fur with grizzled fur on her face, ears, and neck. She has large round ears, a narrow muzzle, and a prominent and conical shoulder hump.

She's large for her age and knowns where the best fishing sports are, proving that even the younger bears can dominate.

909

This large adult female has medium-brown fur, blond ears, and a prominent shoulder hump.

After losijg her cubs this year, 909 didn't miss a beat, continuing to fish and prove that she's still a force to be reckoned with

99

This young adult male has milk chocolate colored fur in late summer. His ears are oval-shaped and his muzzle arcs slightly up toward the tip of his nose. He also carries the faint remnant of a natal color in the fur on the sides of his neck.

Not quite at the top just yet, but give him time. He's got the size and the skills to be a dominant male soon.

910

This large adult female has grizzled-brown fur. While fishing the lip of the falls, 910 occasionally throws her head upward, a behavioral tic that may be tied to the anticipation of catching salmon.

After raising her cubs, she's enjoying the freedom to fish more and pack on some serious body fat.

602 Flotato

This large adult male has uniformly grizzled-brown fur. His ears are wide-set and the fur on the middle of his forehead is often neatly parted. Behaviorally, he can be identified by a peculiar stomping dance that he displays in moments when his excitement level appears to be high.

This is his first Fat Bear Week, and he's here for the good times, fishing, napping, and maybe even a bit of lounging in the river.

503

This large and tall adult male has grizzled-brown body fur. His ears are light brown and crescent or apostrophe-shaped when viewed from the front or back.

While he's strong and dominant, he's got a way of getting along with everyone, often avoiding fights to keep things chill.