#USA #Anchorage #Katmai National Park #Fat Bear Week #explore.org

Fat Bear Week 2025: A Celebration of Nature and Wildlife Conservation

Fat Bear Week, a beloved global event celebrating the lives of brown bears in Alaska's Katmai National Park, is returning for its 11th year from September 23 to 30, 2025. Each year, this unique event invites participants from around the world to vote online for the bear that best exemplifies preparation for the winter season. This year, the public is once again given the chance to witness and appreciate the majestic brown bears as they showcase their winter readiness.

Hosted by explore.org, the leading live nature camera network, and the Katmai Conservancy, Fat Bear Week serves to educate the public about wildlife and conservation efforts that are crucial for preserving habitats. The competition kicks off with a thrilling tournament format where bears compete in matchups, ultimately narrowing down to a single champion on September 30. In 2024, more than 1.2 million votes were cast from over a hundred countries, proving the event's growing popularity.

The tournament-style competition highlights bears that have gained the most weight throughout the summer—thanks to their all-you-can-eat buffet of salmon. This year, the reigning champion, bear 128 Grazer, returns to defend her title while taking care of her yearling cub. Grazer is known for her skills, resilience, and the heartwarming narrative that surrounds her journey as a mother. She faces tough competition from other contenders, including 32 Chunk, a bear who remarkably recovered from a broken jaw, demonstrating the robust spirit of these remarkable animals.

Participants can delve deeper into the world of Fat Bear Week by exploring individual bear profiles, watching before-and-after photos, and learning about each bear's unique story. The Fat Bear Week website offers an array of resources, including educational live streams featuring park rangers and wildlife experts, sharing insights about the life cycles and challenges faced by these bears. Daily updates and engagement also thrive on social media platforms under the hashtag #FatBearWeek.

The excitement doesn't stop there. Kicking off the festivities is Fat Bear Junior, a special two-day competition centered around the younger cubs. The bracket reveal for this competition occurs on September 17 at 3 PM AKT, followed by voting sessions on September 18 and 19. Through activities and live coverage, the event continues to foster a love for wildlife while emphasizing the importance of conservation.

Supporting the bears can also make a difference; donations to the Katmai Conservancy's Otis Fund during Fat Bear Week will be matched by explore.org from September 23 to October 4. There's an additional opportunity to contribute during the Fat Bear Week Celebration Fundraiser on October 4 at 12 PM AKT.

Fat Bear Week inspires a deeper connection to the wild heart of Alaska's Katmai National Park—a landscape renowned for having more brown bears than people and housing the largest remaining runs of sockeye salmon. This enchanting celebration of strength and survival showcases the vital role that wildlife plays in maintaining ecological balance and promoting awareness of the environmental challenges that threaten their habitats.

As we gear up to celebrate this year, let’s honor the incredible stories of these resilient creatures. Join us for Fat Bear Week 2025 and be part of an initiative that not only celebrates wildlife but also empowers advocates for conservation efforts worldwide.