Fat Bear Week - Voting begins Sept 22nd!

[Umbran]

Fat Bear Week is a yearly event celebrating, you guessed it - Fat Bears! With a goal of promoting bear conservation, interest in wildlife, and positive human-nature interactions, the folks at Explore.org and the National Park Service organize a single-elimination tournament of bears, in which folks form around the world can vote for their favorite fat bears!

You can learn about the bears of Katami National Forest, and vote for your favorites (starting the 22nd) here:

Fat Bear Week 2026 - Explore.org

Explore.org is the world's leading philanthropic live nature cam network and documentary film channel. Our mission is to champion the selfless acts of others, create a portal into the soul of humanity and inspire lifelong learning. Watch nature unfold live right now!

explore.org

And... Bearcams!

https://explore.org/livecams/brown-bears/brown-bear-salmon-cam-brooks-falls

 

[MGibster]

I'd like to take this opportunity to remind everyone not to take pictures of me for Fat Bear Week this year. I am a man, not a bear.

 

[Whisper-Kitten]

I have a fat dog, that's sort of like a fat bear, right?

 

[MarkB]

I definitely bear fat, if that counts.

 

[Umbran]

This year in Katami National Park, they've had more cubs than in recent memory, so they have some families in the bracket, too, which is cool. How can you not vote for bear cubs?

 

[MGibster]

My wife's favorite bear is Chunk. Here he is from last year.

 

[Umbran]

Apologies and homage to Dolly Parton...

Well, I waddle outta bed, and I’m ready for some fishin’
Score myself some salmon nutrition
Chomp and chew and live the fat bear life.

Dip in the water and the salmon start jumpin’
Out on the bank, my belly starts plumpin’
With bears like me at the falls from 9 to 5!

Fishin’ 9 to 5, what a way to prep for winter!
Bearly breakin’ sweat, they don’t need to be a sprinter.
They just stand and eat, but the fish deserve some credit,
Salmon pack the calories, and the bears are here to get it.

Fishin’ 9 to 5, these bears are on a mission,
All the way downstream for a FAT BEAR WEEK promotion.
Hardly take a break, just eat and eat some more,
While humans vote for the ones that they adore.

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At Katmai, a bear’s day is less about climbing the corporate ladder and more about climbing Brooks Falls to fish for salmon. From morning til dusk, the bears spend their days fishing, eating, napping, eating, and putting on as much weight as possible before winter arrives.

No meetings. No emails. No performance reviews. Just working 9 to 5, for service and devotion…to fish. All in hopes of a FAT promotion.

Don’t worry bears, your ship'll come in.

NPS Photo/C. Loberg
Words inspired by “9 to 5,” by Dolly Parton.
#9to5Day

 

[jian]

My wife's favorite bear is Chunk. Here he is from last year.

View attachment 448626

Close your mouth when you chew, man! You still got my vote anyway.

 

[MGibster]

Close your mouth when you chew, man! You still got my vote anyway.

Poor Chunk broke his jaw! Have some compassion.

 

[jian]

Poor Chunk broke his jaw! Have some compassion.

Sorry. mate, I didn't know. Must be tough for his salmon quota.