For brown bears, bigger is better. Just ask Bear Force One. For the second time, he’s won the Fat Bear Week competition. This battle of the bears takes place each year at Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska.
“It’s a chance to celebrate the work that bears put into getting fat to survive,” says Mike Fitz. He’s a former park ranger who started the Fat Bear contest in 2014.
Bears in Katmai typically begin hibernating in November. They dig dens on steep slopes and rest inside. While in hibernation, they don’t eat or drink. Their body fat helps keep them warm—and alive.
To bulk up for the winter, bears chow down on anything they can get their paws on. That includes berries, plants, and their favorite food—salmon.
“They need to eat a year’s worth of food in about six months to survive,” Fitz says.
For months, people watched Katmai’s live bear cams. In October, people compared before-and-after photos of 12 finalists. They cast more than a million votes for the bear they thought packed on the most pounds. Bear Force One was the BIG winner, tipping the scales at about 1,400 pounds.
When Bear Force One comes out of his den in the spring, he’ll have lost about one-third of his body weight. Then his hunt for food will start all over again. Fitz doesn’t think the bear will have a problem fattening up again.
“He’s a real giant,” Fitz says. “He is big enough to take over the best fishing spots.”