Sarah Brady
Updated on: October 16, 2024 8:44 am GMT
The annual Fat Bear Week contest brings excitement as it kicks off a new voting season for Alaska’s famous bears. However, this year, the event comes with a somber reminder of nature’s reality. A deadly bear attack at Katmai National Park has cast a shadow over the festivities just before the reveal of this year’s brackets.
A Deadly Encounter
On Monday, a male bear, known as No. 469, attacked and killed a female bear, No. 402, in the Brooks River. This shocking incident prompted officials to delay the bracket reveal by one day, emphasizing the raw power of nature in this wilderness. “We love the bears, but again, it’s a clear reminder of how big and strong and powerful these animals actually are,” said Mike Fitz, a naturalist with Explore.org. He expressed the collective sadness felt by bear watchers and enthusiasts over the loss of the beloved No. 402.
Fat Bear Week Details
The Fat Bear Week contest celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. This online competition allows the public to vote on their favorite bears as they prepare for winter by gaining weight through salmon fishing at Brooks Falls. Voting begins noon ET on Wednesday and will run until October 8. The winner will be announced on the evening of October 8.
Matchups to Watch
This year, the first matchup features two contenders: Bear 519, a subadult female with distinct traits, and 909 Junior, a nearly four-year-old female. Both bears have captured the public’s interest, and their head-to-head battle will kick off the voting.
Popularity of the Contest
The contest continues to grow each year. In 2023, nearly 1.4 million votes came in from over 100 countries, with 128 Grazer taking home the title. The contest utilizes a single-elimination format, similar to a sports tournament where the bear with the most votes moves on to the next round.
- Voting opens: Noon ET, Wednesday
- Voting ends: October 8
- Winner announced: October 8 evening
Fans can cast their votes at fatbearweek.org. There’s also a preliminary contest for the junior bears, with 909 Junior securing the top position.
Nature and Human Interaction
human-bear interactions. Reports from the National Park Service (NPS) noted four incidents from September 18 to 29. In these cases, bears were seen receiving fish from anglers—practices that can disrupt their natural behavior and lead to dangerous situations. As a result, the Brooks River corridor is closed to all anglers, except subsistence users until October 31.
These incidents emphasize the importance of keeping bears wild and avoiding any actions that could condition them to seek human food. The NPS reminds the public to respect the bears’ environment to keep both wildlife and humans safe.
In Conclusion
Fat Bear Week is about to start, and everyone is feeling excited and a bit sad. This event is a special way to celebrate the amazing animals in nature. We will miss Bear 402, which reminds us that wildlife can face tough times, even during a fun contest. People are ready to vote for their favorite bears while keeping in mind the real challenges that these animals face.
