Katmai’s Fat Bear Junior Voting Concludes as Prequel to Fat Bear Week

Lead: Voting for Fat Bear Junior, the “chubby cubby appetizer” to Katmai National Park’s annual Fat Bear Week, wrapped up on September 19, with fans worldwide casting ballots to send one young contender into the main tournament.

Nut Graf: The two-day cub competition spotlighted five eager Yearling and spring cubs-128 Jr., both of 803’s cubs, and both of 26’s cubs-as they vied for a spot in the single-elimination bracket beginning September 23. Today’s final vote underscores public fascination with brown bears’ hyperphagic transformation and sets the stage for the adult bear showdown.

Fat Bear Junior: Cubs Bulk Up and Entertain

On Thursday morning, Fat Bear Junior voting opened at 9:00 a.m. AKDT, inviting enthusiasts to choose the chubbiest cub through today at 9:00 a.m. AKDT. Over the course of two days, bearcam viewers compared “before” and “after” snapshots of each cub, tracking growth essential for survival through winter hibernation.

Champion Cub to Join the Main Contest

The victorious cub-determined by the highest online vote total-earns a place among twelve adult bears when the main Fat Bear Week bracket is unveiled on September 22. That bracket will then kick off with head-to-head matchups from September 23 through September 30, when the fattest adult bear will be crowned champion.

Public Engagement and Ecological Education

Organizers expect record participation, building on last year’s 1 million votes from 100 countries. Beyond the competition, Fat Bear Week and its Junior event offer a global classroom: live webinars with park rangers, educational resources for teachers, and real-time bearcam footage illustrate the vital link between Katmai’s sockeye salmon run and its brown bear population.

Looking Ahead: The Main Event

  • September 22 - Adult bear bracket revealed
  • September 23-30 - Daily voting rounds
  • September 30 - Fat Bear Week champion announced

Katmai National Park and Preserve, in partnership with Explore.org and the Katmai Conservancy, continues to leverage Fat Bear Week to foster wildlife awareness and celebrate the resilience of Alaska’s brown bears.