In the “Fat Bear Week” competition in Alaska in 2024, the mother bear Grazer with number 128 and the male bear Chunk with number 32 once again faced off. Grazer once again claimed the title of the most popular fat bear, in a way of revenge for Chunk killing her cub earlier in the summer.
“Fat Bear Week” is an online voting event, and this year marks the tenth anniversary of the event. Grazer also won the crown in last year’s competition.
In this year’s competition, Grazer not only defeated her opponent but also dominated the contest. According to records from the leading global nature live streaming network Explore.org, Grazer received more than twice as many votes as Chunk. The two fat bears received 71,248 and 30,468 votes respectively, with a difference of 40,780 votes.
Fans voted online for their favorite chubby brown bears, starting with a lineup of 12 fat bears. They selected bears they believed best showcased the state of readiness for winter. These bears feed on migrating red salmon in the summer, accumulating a thick layer of fat.
When salmon try to leap over waterfalls to spawn upstream, fat bears leap to catch the fish in mid-air. In July 2024, Grazer’s cub was swept over Brook Falls. The rushing river carried the cub towards the most aggressive male bear on the river, Chunk, who unfortunately killed the cub.
Chunk may be the fiercest brown bear on the river. Grazer fought with Chunk to save her cub but ultimately lost her baby. The on-site cameras captured the tragic incident.
While people enjoy reading about brown bears and casting their votes, as well as watching these bears through live cameras, this year’s competition shed light on the harsh and wild lives of these bears.
Just last week, another death was recorded by the on-site cameras, causing a one-day delay in the announcement of the competition’s groups. A mother bear with the number 402, scheduled to participate in this year’s competition, was killed by a male brown bear on the day the groupings were supposed to be announced.
The competition is organized by the Katmai National Park and Preserve, aiming to raise public awareness about the wild brown bears of Alaska. Just like driving to see the scenic fall foliage, these fat bears have become a sight to behold.
According to the Explore.org website, Grazer has striking golden ears and a long, straight mouth. However, more important than its appearance is that Grazer is a highly defensive mother bear who has raised three litters of cubs.
“On the Brooks River, its presence is awe-inspiring. Its fearlessness and power have earned it respect, and most bears avoid confronting it,” the website says.
This annual competition attracted over 1.3 million votes last year, celebrating the resilience of the 2,200 brown bears living in the protected areas of the Alaska Peninsula.