The History:[]
The History of Katmai National Park & Preserve Fat Bear Week Tournament
Fat Bear Week: A Very Short History.
The contest started in 2014 with Fat Bear Tuesday . It was a one day event, but proved to be extremely popular. 480 Otis beat 410 that year.
In 2015 , the tournament was expanded into a whole week and has kept the same format since. 409 Beadnose defeated 480 Otis in the 2015 contest.
In 2016 , 480 Otis defeated 435 Holly and won Fattest Bear on Fat Bear Tuesday and Alaska Day !
In 2017 , 480 Otis defeated 747 and won Fattest Bear on Fat Bear Tuesday .
In 2018 , 409 Beadnose defeated 747 to win fat bear for the second time.:
Overcoming the Misconception Surrounding Fat Bear Week:[]
On September 16, 2019 at 14:45, Mike Fitz comments to help overcome the misconception surrounding Fat Bear Week:
"I know that a few people, even park rangers, have stated that the Fat Bear Week contest is based on who gained the most weight, but that's a misconception. It's who you think is the fattest and you can base your "vote" on any number of factors. It could be who you think is the biggest. It could also be who you think gained the most weight or who gained the most weight proportionally. You could weight your vote on life history influences such as whether a female had to care for cubs. You could combine all of those aspects of their lives or add more. That's what makes the contest and the debate surrounding who's the fattest so much fun. I expect the bearcam audience will campaign vigorously for their favorite candidate by letting everyone else know why their bear's platform is the fattest. Who's your early favorite?"
The Purpose:[]
The purpose of the tournament: In the words of former KNP&P ranger Michael Fitz: "No matter what, Fat Bear Week is about connecting bears to their survival adaptations. It doesn't really matter who wins, because more people now recognize the efforts bears go through to gain weight to survive the winter."
The Fat Bear Week Campaign Trail:[]
Will 747's Long-Time Campaign Manager Mike Fitz Continue to Stand His Ground:[]
Mike Fitz's September 29, 2020 Wandering at Large blog: Fat Bear Week 2020 Endorsement
Mike Fitz' September 29, 2019 Wandering At Large blog: Fat Bear Week 2019 Endorsement
Take a look back at Mike's 2017 endorsement of 747: Blog by former KNP&P ranger, Mike Fitz ~ 747 Should Be Your Choice For Fat Bear Week
Bearcam Viewers Campaign with Posters They Created:[]
Explore.org bearcam viewers participate in campaigning for their candidates in the Bearcam comment thread: Sasja #team812 shared their Team 812 poster on 9/21/2020. Phillydude shared their 747 poster on 9/22/2020. Scooch shared a poem and her 747gif on 9/22/2020. Tralfamadore shared their 909 poster on 9/22/2020. Swane3169 shared their 480 Otis poster on 9/22/2020. Cruiser shared their 747 poster on 9/22/2020 . BTWW shared their 480 Otis poster on 9/22/2020. saskybrenda17 shared her "Undecided" poster on 9/22/2020. DinkeyCreekGirl shared two 32 Chunk posters on 9/22/2020, #1 and #2. Itzycav shared their 435 Holly poster on 9/22/2020. BeckyO shared her 747 poster on 9/22/2020. Barbara-10 shared their 151 Walker poster on 9/22/2020. DinkeyCreekGirl shared her 32 Chunk poster on 9/22/2020. DinkeyCreekGirl shared her 32 Chunk poster on 9/22/2020. mwagner51 shared multiple 747 poems between 9/17-9/22/2020 ,#1, #2, #3, #4, #5 and #6. Birgitt shared a 402 poster on 9/22/2020. Serecindra shared this poster of 435 Holly's spring cub on9/22/2020. Anna S shared her 151 Walker poster on 9/22/2020. FormerBear shared their 747 poster on 9/22/2020. DanteV2000 shared their 151 Walker gif on 9/23/2020. Phillydude shared his 856 and 402 poster on 9/23/2020. Honeybear27 shared their 32 Chunk poster on 9/24/2020. Princess503 shared her 747 poster on 9/24/2020. ZitaWang shared their fat bear poster on 9/25/2020. FrogsOn shared their 747 poster on 9/25/2020. Cruiser shared their Cub Holly poster on 9/24/2020. Rose Taggart shared her 747 poster on 9/24/2020. Cruiser shared their 32 Chunk gif on 9/25/2020. Cruiser shared their 747 poster on 9/25/2020. Honeybear27 shared this poster of 32 Chunk on 9/25/2020. Honeybear27 shared this poster of 32 Chunk on 9/25/2020. Jade_Bear shared their 435 Holly poster on 9/25/2020. Philldude shared their 856 vs 151 Walker poster on 9/25/2020. Barbara-10 shared her 747 poster on 9/25/2020. BTWW shared their 747 poster on 9/25/2020. BTWW shared their 747 poster on 9/26/2020. CamOp Kwaahu shared their 435 Holly and 128 Grazer poem on 9/26/2020. Honeybear27 shared their 32 Chunk poster on 9/26/2020. Cruiser shared their 151 Walker poster on 9/26/2020. Tracewindz shared their 480 Otis poster on 9/26/2020. Cruiser shared their 480 Otis poster on 9/27/2020. DinkeyCreekGirl shared her 32 Chunk poster on 9/27/2020. Serecindra shared their poster of 435 Holly's spring cub on 9/28/2020. Cruiser shared their 435 Holly poster on 9/28/2020. BTWW shared their 151 Walker poster on 9/28/2020. GreenRiver shared their 747 poster on 9/28/2020. Goldilocks,Canada shared her 435 Holly posters on 9/28/2020, #1 and #2. Cruiser shared their 435 Holly and spring cub poster on 9/28/2020. Cruiser shared their 435 Holly poster on 9/28/2020. Swane3169 shared their 480 Otis poster on 9/29/2020. Cruiser shared their poster of 435 Holly's spring cub on 9/29/2020. Cruiser shared their 747 gif on 9/29/2020. Papa 42 NY shared their 480 Otis gif on 9/29/2020. Papa 42 NY shared their 480 Otis poster on 9/29/2020. Princess 503 shared her 747 poster on 9/29/2020 Cloud shared her 747 gif on 9/29/2020. Honeybear27 shared their 32 Chunk poster on 9/29/2020. Scooch shared her 151 Walker vs 856 poster on 9/30/2020. Scooch shared her 402 vs 812 poster on 9/30/2020. DinkeyCreek Girl shared their first round poster of 151 vs 856 and 402 vs 812 on 9/30/2020. Cruiser shared their poster of all 12 Fat Bear competitors on 9/30/2020. Keli shared her 151 Walker poster on 9/29/2020. Scooch shared her 32 Chunk vs 719 poster on 10/1/2020 . Scooch shared her poster of 435 Holly's cub vs 909 on 10/1/2020. Stacey shared her poster of 435 Holly's spring cub on 10/1/2020 . Stacey shared her poster of 435 Holly's spring cub on 10/1/2020. Cruiser shared their 747 gif on 10/1/2020. DinkeyCreekGirl shared her 32 Chunk vs 719 and 435 Holly's spring cub vs 909 poster on 10/1/2020. DinkeyCreekGirl shared her 32 Chunk poster on 10/1/2020. DinkeyCreekGirl shared her 32 Chunk poster on 10/1/2020 . DinkeyCreekGirl shared her 32 Chunk poster on 10/1/2020 . Stacey shared her 719 poster on 10/1/2020. Itzycav shared their poster of 435 Holly's cub on 10/1/2020. Itzycav shared their poster of 435 Holly's cub on 10/1/2020. BTWW shared their 32 Chunk poster on 10/1/2020. BTWW shared their 719 stand-in poster on 10/1/2020. Serecindra shared their poster of 435 Holly's cub on 10/1/2020. Honeybear27 shared their 32 Chunk poster on 10/1/2020. Honeybear27 shared their 32 Chunk poster on 10/1/2020. Tralfamadore shared their 128 Grazer poster on 10/1/2020. Cruiser shared their 747 poster on 10/1/2020. Scooch shared her 480 Otis poster on 10/2/2020. Scooch shared her 480 Otis poster on 10/2/2020. Lauren Swanson shared their 480 Otisposter on 10/2/2020. Lani H shared her 747 poster on 10/2/2020. Stacey shared her 480 Otis poster on 10/2/2020. PaPa 42 NY shared his 480 Otis poster on 10/2/2020. PaPa 42 NY shared his 480 Otis poster on 10/2/2020. DinkeyCreekGirl shared her 480 Otis poster on 10/2/2020. Cloud shared their 747 poster on 10/2/2020. Honeybear27 shared their 480 Otis poster on 10/2/2020. Goldilocks,Canada shared her 480 Otis poster on 10/2/2020. BTWW shared their 480 Otis poster on 10/2/2020. BTWW posted their 480 Otis poster on 10/2/2020. Ruxpin shared their 480 Otis poster on 10/2/2020. Goldilocks,Canada shared her 480 Otis poster on 10/2/2020. Ginray shared their 480 Otis poster on 10/2/2020. Goldilocks,Canada shared her 747 poster on 10/2/2020. Cruiser shared their 480 Otis poster on 10/2/2020. Siobhan Quakgrass shared their poster of 747 on 10/3/2020. Ruxpin shared their 435 Holly poster on 10/3/2020. Cruiser shared their 128 Grazer gif on 10/3/2020. Cruiser shared their 747 poster on 10/2/2020. Cruiser shared their 128 Grazer poster on 10/2/2020. Stacey shared their 435 Holly poster on 10/3/3030. BTWW shared their 151 Walker poster on 10/3/2020. DanteV2000 shared their gif of 435 Holly's spring cub on 10/1/2020. DanteV2000 shared their gif of 435 Holly's spring cub on 10/1/2020. DanteV2000 shared their 435 Holly gif on 10/1/2020. DanteV2000 shared their 128 Grazer gif on 10/1/2020. DanteV2000 shared their 128 Grazer gif on 10/3/2020. Goldilocks,Canada shared her 435 Holly poster on 10/3/2020. Goldilocks,Canada shared her 435 Holly poster on 10/3/2020. Barbara-10 shared her 32 Chunk poster on 10/4/2020. MChez shared their 128 Grazer poster on 10/3/2020. Glheaven shared their 480 Otis poster on 10/3/2020. Stacey shared her 747 poster on 10/4/2020. BTWW shared their 480 Otis endorses 747 poster on 10/4/2020. NWBearLove92 shared their 854 Divot endorses 747 poster on 10/4/2020. Cruiser shared their 747 poster on 10/4/2020. Cruiser shared their 747 poster on 10/4/2020. Ruxpin shared their 151 Walker should withdraw poster on 10/4/2020. BTWW shared their 747 poster on 10/4/2020. Cruiser shared their 747 poster on 10/4/2020. Cruiser shared their 747 poster on 10/4/2020. Cloud shared their 747 poster on 10/4/2020. Cloud shared their 747 poster on 10/4/2020. Goldilocks,Canada shared her 747 poster on 10/4/2020. Merry_mermaid shared their 747 poster on 10/4/2020. Kam shared her 747 poster on 10/4/2020. Truman Everts shared his 747 poster on 10/4/2020. BTWW shared their 151 Walker poster on 10/4/2020. Cloud shared their 747 poster on 10/4/2020. Barbara-10 shared their 747 poster on 10/4/2020. Barbara-10 shared their 747 poster on 10/4/2020, Page 1, Page 2, Page 3 and page 4. NWBearLove92 shared her 747 poster on 10/4/2020. MChez shared her 128 Grazer poster 10/4/2020.BTWW shared their 32 Chunk poster on 10/5/2020. MChez shared her 128 Grazer poster on 10/5/2020. MChez shared her 128 Grazer poster on 10/5/2020. MChez shared her 128 Grazer poster on 10/5/2020 .BTWW shared their 747 poster on 10/5/2020. BTWW shared their 32 Chunk poster on 10/5/2020. BTWW shared their 128 Grazer poster on 10/5/2020. BTWW shared their 747 poster on 10/5/2020. Honeybear27 shared their 32 Chunk poster on 10/5/2020. Honeybear27 shared their 32 Chunk poster on 10/5/2020. Barbara-10 shared her 128 Grazer poster on 10/5/2020. DinkeyCreek Girl shared their 32 Chunk vs 128 Grazer poster on 10/5/2020. Ajah shared her 747 vs 32 Chunk poster on 10/6/2020. BTWW shared their 747 poster on 10/6/2020. BTWW shared their 747 poster on 10/6/2020. Leala shared heir 747 poster on 10/6/2020. PaPa 42 NY shared their 747 poster on 10/6/2020. Cloud shared their 747 poster on 10/6/2020. DTB shared her 747 poster on 10/6/2020. Barbara-10 shared her 747 poster on 10/6/2020. Barbara-10 shared her 747 poster on 10/6/2020. Ruxpin shared their 747 poster on 10/6/2020. PaPa 42 NY shared their 747 gif on 10/6/2020. PaPa 42 NY shared their 747 gif on 10/6/2020. DinkeyCreekGirl shared her 32 Chunk vs 747 poster on 10/6/2020 . DinkeyCreekGirl shared her 32 Chunk poster on 10/6/2020. BTWW shared their 747 poster on 10/6/2020. Cruiser shared their 747 poster on 10/6/2020. Cloud shared their 747 poster on 10/6/2020. Cloud shared their 747 poster on 10/6/2020. Cloud shared their 747 poster on 10/6/2020. Fencepost shared their 32 Chunk poster on 10/6/2020. MChez shared their 747 poster on 10/6/2020. MChez shared their 747 consoles 32 Chunk poster on 10/6/2020. MChez shared their 747 and 856 poster on 10/6/2020. MChez shared their Ernest ground squirrel poster on 10/6/2020. Cloud shared their 747 poster on 10/6/2020. Cloud shared their 747 poster on 10/6/2020. Cloud shared their 747 poster on 10/6/2020. Ajah shared their 32 Chunk poster on 10/6/2020 . BTWW shared their 747 poster on 10/6/2020 . BTWW shared their 747 poster on 10/6/2020. NWBearLove92 shared their 747 poster on 10/6/2020.
.jpg "Undecided poster by saskybrenda17 (left to right, 480 Otis, 151 Walker, 32 Chunk, 856, 435 Holly and her spring cub).jpg (1.53 MB)")
Bearcam viewers also campaigned with videos:[]
Deelynnd ( aka Deanna Dittloff) shared her 747 video on 9/23/2020.
747 for Fat Bear 2020, video by Deanna Dittloff
DTB (aka yesitsdonna) shared her 480 for Fat Bear video on 10/2/2020. "Being an old bear in his mid 20s hasn't slowed him down. 480 Otis is still getting unashamedly obese, even though he has 1 good tooth. Thank you, Mac Davis for your iconic song. RIP."
480 for Fatbear 2020, video by DTB (aka yesitsdonna)
Bearcam viewers also shared their posters on Explore's Fat Bear Week Contest Page. Top-favorited campaign posters will win a Bear Cam 2020 coffee mug.
Top voted posters were announced on September 28, 2020 on Explore's Facebook page. Courtney commented: "Your posters were seriously amazing. We were only going to name 5 winners, but we named 10."
The Media Hype:[]
September 21, 2020 article in the Modesto Bee, "What is Fat Bear Week? You can vote to crown the heftiest in Alaska National Park."
September 24, 2020 article by CNET.
September 24, 2020 article by The CUT.
September 24, 2020 article by Forbes.
September 25, 2020 article by Lonely Planet.
September 25, 2020 article by dailydot.com.
Fat Bear Week is Next Week video posted by WAVY TV 10 on 9/25/2020.
Fat Bear Week is next week! Video by WAVY TV 10
September 25, 2020 article by Mashable published after the Fat Bear bracket reveal.
September 26, 2020 Outsider.com article.
September 27, 2020 National Parks Traveler article.
September 28, 2020 article by CNN.
September 28, 2020 People Magazine article.
September 28, 2020 Coast Mountain News article
September 28, 2020 SB Nation article
Septemeber 28, 2020 Fox News article
September 28, 2020 Mashable article
September 28, 2020 ABC 11, Raleigh-Durham, NC
September 29, 2020 wzzm13.com article
September 29, 2020 Backpacker article
September 29, 2020 Gizmodo article
September 29, 2020 Mashable article
September 29, 2020 MSN article
September 29, 2020 ADN.com article
September 29, 2020 CBS News article
September 29, 2020 North Central PA.com article
September 30, 2020 Inverse article
September 30, 2020 IFLS article
September 30, 2020 Mashable article
September 30, 2020 Smithsonian article
September 30, 2020 Washington Post article
September 30, 2020 Good Morning America article
October 1, 2020 The Guardian article
October 1, 2020 Omaha World-Herald video
October 2, 2020 NPR article
October 2, 2020 KTOO article
October 2, 2020 The Daily Beast video
May The Fattest Bear Win Voting Opens For National Park's Pre-Hibernation Contest, video by The Daily Beast
October 2, 2020 The Drew Barrymore Show video (at 3:20)
Drew's News SNL, Marie Kondo, Fat Bear Week, video by The Drew Barrymore Show
October 3, 2020 NY Times article
October 3, 2020 CBC News article
October 3, 2020 interview with Ranger Brooklyn White by Wild Green Streams for Ecological Fiends.
Fat Bear Week! Interview with Ranger Brooklyn White by Wild Green Streams for Ecological Fiends, 10 3 2020
October 6, 2020 Guardian article
October 6, 2020 Yahoo News article
October 6, 2020 Anchorage Daily News article
October 6, 2020 USA Today article
October 6, 2020 The Verge article
October 6, 2020 Washington Post article
October 6, 2020 Mashable article
October 6, 2020 MSN article
October 7, 2020 itv article
October 7, 2020 CNN article
October 7, 2020 Gizmodo article
October 7, 2020 The Cut article
October 7, 2020 EcoWatch article
October 7, 2020 NY Times udated article
October 15, 2020 NBC Nightly News Kids edition video at 8:00
Nightly News Kids Edition (October 15, 2020) NBC Nightly News
2020 Fat Bear Week Tournament:[]
2020 Fat Bear Week Website:[]
Katmai National Park & Preserve in partnership with Explore.org and Katmai Conservancy have created a new
Fat Bear Week Website . []
This site is going to be the main hub for all things fat bears this season..
2020 Fat Bear Week Voting:[]
Voting for the 2020 Fat Bear Week Contest will take place on a dedicated Fat Bear Week Website: FatBearWeek.org Vote . Each day, Ranger Naomi Boak and Ranger Brooklyn White will be sharing pairings of the bears and fat bear lovers will be given the chance to vote on the fattest bear of them all. Voting will be available daily at the 2020 Fat Bear Week Website:
FatBearWeek.ORG - Vote []
Links to voting will also be provided on KNP&P's Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, so no matter where you are connected you are going to have the opportunity to participate this season.
2020 Fat Bear Week Dates Are Announced:[]
Fat Bear Week dates are announced in KNP&P's September 25, 2020 Facebook post.
2020 Fat Bear Week Bracket Drops:[]
Link to 2020 Fat Bear Week Bracket[]
Welcome to Fat Bear Week Live Chat with Explore Resident Naturalist Mike Fitz (remotely) and Katmai National Park Rangers Naomi Boak (remotely from King Salmon) and Brooklyn White (remotely), September 30, 2020:
09.30.2020 - Fat Bear Week Begins! with Mike Fitz and Rangers Naomi and Brooklyn
Welcome to Fat Bear Week 2020 Live Chat with Explore Resident Naturalist Mike Fitz and Katmai National Park Rangers Naomi Boak and Brooklyn White
Fat Bear Week in the Classroom Live Chat with Explore Resident Naturalist Mike Fitz (remotely) and Katmai National Park Ranger Brooklyn White (remotely), September 30, 2020:
Live Chat Fat Bear Week in the Classroom with Explore Resident Naturalist Mike Fitz and Katmai National Park Ranger Brooklyn White 9 30 2020
Fat Bear Week 2020 Contenders video by Explore.
Fat Bear Week 2020 Contenders, video by Explore
Fat Bear Week 2020 Slider Comparisons by Katmai National Park and Preserve:[]
September 30, 2020 article by KNP&P
Slider comparisons in numerical order:
Day 1: Wednesday, September 30, 2020:[]
Match Up #1: 151 Walker vs 856:
151 Walker defeated 856 by a landslide. Walker had 73,749 votes to 16,803 votes for 856. He will face fan favorite and 2 time Fat Bear Week champion 480 Otis in the next round on Friday October 2nd.
Match Up #2: 402 vs 812:
812 convincingly beat his Mother 402. 812 had 39,492 votes to 11,652 votes for 402. 812 will face the ginormous 747 in the next round on Friday, October 2nd.
Day 2: Thursday, October 1, 2020:[]
Match Up #3: 32 Chunk vs 719:
32 Chunk defeated 719 by a fairly wide margin but 719 should be a contender in the future. 32 Chunk tallied 59,435 votes to 12,184 votes for 719. 32 Chunk will face multiple time winner 435 Holly in the next round on Saturday, October 3rd
Match Up #4: 435's Cub vs 909:
909 defeated 435 Holly's cub in a fairly close race. The sub 909 had 25,885 votes to the cub's 19,182 votes. These two females may be battling it out in the future. 909 advances to face 128 Grazer on Saturday, October 3rd.
Day 3: Friday October 2, 2020:[]
Match Up #5: 151 Walker vs 480 Otis: In a shocking upset, 151 Walker defeated fan favorite 480 Otis by a wide margin. 151 Walker garnered 41,956 votes to 19,882 votes for perennial winner 480 Otis. 151 Walker will challenge Big Boy 747 in the next round on Sunday, October 4th.
Match Up #6: 812 vs 747:
Young 812 gave 747 a run for his money in a closer than expected race. 812 recorded 25,973 votes to 33,748 votes for 747. 747 will next face off with the surprisingly fat 151 Walker on Sunday, October 4th.
Day 4: Saturday October 3, 2020:[]
Match Up #7: 32 Chunk vs 435 Holly:
In a somewhat shocking result, 32 Chunk defeated 435 Holly with 30,257 votes to Holly's 21,475 votes. 435 Holly is still a winner in the hearts of her many fans.
Match Up #8: 128 Grazer vs 909:
In the Family Feud match up, 909 was defeated by her speculated maternal cousin 128 Grazer. 128 Grazer garnered 41,023 votes to 6591 votes for 909 in a landslide.
Day 5: Sunday October 4, 2020:[]
Match Up #9: 151 Walker vs 747: 747 continued his winning ways by crushing 151 Walker. 747 captured 31,618 viewer votes to 10,902 votes for 151 Walker.
Day 6: Monday October 5, 2020:[]
Match Up #10: 32 Chunk vs 128 Grazer:
In a fairly close race, 32 Chunk defeated 128 Grazer by a count of 28,785 votes for Chunk and 26,622 votes for Grazer. For those of you who voted for Chunk, look out for a "Grazering."
Day 7: Fat Bear Tuesday October 6, 2020:[]
32 Chunk vs 747:
In the grand finale of Fat Bear Week, 32 Chunk faced off against 747. 747 jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. 747 crushed 32 Chunk by a final tally of 47,055 votes to Chunk's 21,854. The fattest bear to never win Fat Bear Week finally did and all is right with the world. 747's campaign manager Mike Fitz was quite pleased. 747 was so excited that he headed to Disneyland to celebrate his win.
Fat Bear Tuesday Live Chat with Explore Resident Naturalist Mike Fitz (remotely) and Katmai National Park Rangers Naomi Boak (remotely from King Salmon) and Brooklyn White (remotely), October 6, 2020:
10.06.2020 - Fat Bear Tuesday with Mike Fitz and Rangers Naomi Boak and Brooklyn White
Fat Bear Week Finals 747 v. 32 Chunk Live Chat with Explore Resident Naturalist Mike Fitz and Rangers Naomi Boak and Brooklyn White