Fat Bear Week Begins in Alaska as Chunk Aims for Second Title

Alaska's Fat Bear Week kicks off with Chunk, the 1,200-pound champion, vying for a second win. Fans vote online for their favorite bears.

Editorial Desk

September 22, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — ANCHORAGE, Alaska — As summer draws to a close, Alaska’s heaviest brown bears are preparing for their annual showdown in Fat Bear Week, an event that celebrates the animals’ ability to gain weight by feasting on salmon.

The contest, now in its 12th year, features 16 bears competing in a single-elimination bracket. Online voting began Tuesday, with the winner to be announced on September 29. Last year’s champion, Chunk (Bear 32), is back and aiming for a repeat victory after weighing in at 1,200 pounds in 2025.

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Bears like Gully, the offspring of two-time champion Grazer, are among the contenders. The public can watch the bears via livestream cameras and review before-and-after photos to decide their favorites. The event highlights the resilience of the 2,200 brown bears that call Katmai National Park and Preserve home.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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