Welcome to the Fat Bear Week semi-finals where the bears are well-fed and the voters are well-read! May the fattest bear win. Vote today from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. AKDT at fatbearweek.org.
Southwest
The Real Life Rivalry in the Fat Bear Week Quarter Finals
151 Walker is in The Office. The Office is a popular fishing spot amongst the bears on the far side of the falls. It’s kind of chill, like the corner booth at a restaurant that faces the room. He’s just, you know, doing his thing. Walker is unaware that 164 Bucky is creeping up along…
Fat Bear Week Day 2: Subadults, Scars, Beefcakes, and Bad Boys
In case you missed it: voter turnout for Day 1 of Fat Bear Week was so huge, it broke their website. Organizers made changes to the voting collection process and re-opened Day 2 with a repeat of Day 1’s polls.
Fat Bear Week Begins with Family Groups and Sow Power
Today we have a total of four matches—eight bears!—to weigh. New this year is the introduction of family groups. Female bears who are well-fed going into hibernation are more likely to have the nutrients needed to birth and care for cubs in the den.
Fat Bear Week returns for fall 2026
Similar to March Madness, Fat Bear Week is a bracket-style, single elimination tournament. This annual competition from Katmai National Park is a celebration of a summer’s worth of hard work, a hat tip to a healthy ecosystem, and a collection of survival stories.
2 more victims of fatal Southwest Alaska plane crash identified
Joseph “Joe” Palmer and Tom Fisher worked for Calista Brice, a subsidiary of Calista Corporation.