Bear cubs experience many challenges during their young lives and their vulnerability is magnified by their small body size. Crucially, they must gain enough body fat to survive winter hibernation. Brown bear cubs are born in midwinter and only newborn cubs suckle mother’s milk in the den. All others rely on their fat reserves to endure winter.
Bear cubs gain body mass at proportionately greater rates than even the largest adult bears. A spring (first-year) cub weighs about one pound (0.45 kg) at birth, yet they may begin hibernation weighing more than 70 pounds (32 kg). By the end of their second summer, yearling cubs in Katmai can weigh more than 200 pounds (91 kg).
Cubs display differing growth rates, behaviors, personalities, and maturity levels as they age. Differences can even be seen among littermates. Life with mom is a short apprenticeship and cubs must absorb their mother’s lessons if they are to survive as independent bears.
KNP&P's Fat Bear Junior Contest began in 2021. Let's see which dependent bear will be the 4th ever Fat Bear Junior Champion in 2024!
Get Your Brackets Ready!:[]
KNP&P's September 24, 2024 13:01 Facebook Post:
Get your brackets ready! Fat Bear Junior voting takes place this Thursday and Friday, September 26 &27. Vote for the Jr floofs that have followed their sows through the summer and have found their way to being the fattest cubs around. Learn more about the contenders below, fill out your bracket, and remember to vote at the Explore.og 2024 Fat Bear Week Website.
Meet The 2024 Fat Bear Junior Contenders:
NPS photograph by Ranger C. Cravatta
NPS photograph by Ranger Felicia Jimenez
NPS photograph by Ranger Felicia Jimenez
Photograph courtesy of Melissa Freels (aka MelissainOR)
Please request Melissa's permission PRIOR to using her photograph!
Match 1: 806's Yearling vs 910's Adopted 3.5 Year-Old Niece/Cub ( aka "909 Jr"):[]
Its time for the fledgling fuzzy face-off between the seasoned soon-to-be subadults. These cubs have had at least one year with their sow and have learned how to grow to gargantuan greatness. Vote for your favored cub to compete tomorrow for the crowning glory of Fat Bear Junior Champion.
806's Yearling: Reigning 2023 Fat Bear Junior Champion[]
806's second year cub is a male with grizzled brown fur, a prominent shoulder hump and frosted ears. He grew in size and confidence, learning to fish alongside his mother. He was the 2023 Fat Bear Junior Champion.
July 7, 2024 NPS photograph by Ranger Tammy Carmack vs September 15, 2024 NPS photograph by Ranger Felicia Jimenez
The 2023 Fat Bear Junior Champion is familiar with the stress and risk faced by young bears. As a first-year cub, he would sometimes explore his boundaries near humans. Around other bears, though, he rarely ventured far from mom. His need to stay close to mom resulted in more than one slip and slide over the edge of Brooks Falls.
During summer 2024 his continued education under mother provided advantages that he did not experience previously. With the size and strength to withstand the river’s rushing water, he could more easily accompany his mother to the lip of the falls to catch jumping salmon. He was less intimidated by other bears. He also grew a lot. Although his true mass is unknown, he is almost as tall at the shoulder as his approximately 10 year-old mother. Life as a yearling cub doesn’t bring an end to the risk faced by cubs, but 806’s yearling discovered greater security and gained valuable skills in a place where the level of competition is high.
910's Adopted 3.5 Year-Old Niece/Cub (aka "909Jr"): 2022 Fat Bear Junior Champion[]
"909 Jr" is a large-bodied nearly 4 year-old female cub. She has evenly colored brown fur and wide-set ears. She gained extra years of care after being adopted by her Aunt 910. She grew large for her age, winning the 2022 Fat Bear Junior Competition.
July 2, 2024 NPS photograph by Ranger Tammy Carmack vs September 13, 2024 NPS photograph by Ranger Felicia Jimenez
Biography: 910's Adopted 3.5 Year-Old Niece/Cub (aka "909 Jr")
Bear 909 separated from her then 2.5-year-old cub in spring 2023. This normally begins a journey of independence for young bears. But 909 Junior found a new path. She was adopted by her aunt, 910, who was still caring for her biological yearling cub.
909 Junior has remained with the 910 family since, which has provided her with an uncommon advantage. She’s experienced two extra summers with a mother. That’s two extra summers of guidance and protection plus two extra winters of warmth in the den. She’s grown large for her age, yet she’s still very much a cub and never shy about trying to eat the fish caught by her adopted mom. She appears well positioned to succeed during her future transition to independence, which is likely to come next spring.
Family means a lot to a young bear, and 909 Junior used her extra years with an adoptive family to grow and enhance the skills necessary to thrive. She was the 2022 Fat Bear Junior champion.
Match 2: 910's 2.5 Year-Old Biological Cub vs 128 Grazer's Remaining Spring Cub[]
Invite these energetic ingénues into your ideas of inflated ursines. These two bears are newcomers to the Fat Bear Junior competition and only one will advance to the chubby championship when you vote.
910's 2.5 Year-Old Biological Cub (aka "910 Jr"):[]
This 2.5 year-old female cub has evenly brown, grizzled fur. She faced constant competition for food in a blended family. She overcame disadvantages to grow into a large and capable bear.
July 4, 2024 NPS photograph by Ranger Tammy Carmack vs September 13, 2024 NPS photograph by Ranger Felicia Jimenez
Biography: 910's 2.5 Year-Old Biological Cub
Family life has been unique for 910’s biological cub. She was part of an integrated family alongside her mother, her aunt, and cousin in 2022. The following spring, she remained part of a blended family when her mother adopted her cousin, 909 Junior. While the cubs under 910’s care have remained bonded, they also discovered that hunger drives competition among bears, family included.
Competition for food increases among bears when salmon are sparse in Brooks River or when individual bears are particularly hungry. In those circumstances 910 would sometimes guard her food while the biological and adopted cubs tried to grab any exposed part of the fish. It was a race for leftovers that the larger, older, and adopted cub often won.
The 2.5-year-old overcame the competitive disadvantages to feast whenever she could. She has grown into a large, nearly three year-old bear. Her story tells us that even bear families must work through sibling strife to succeed.
128 Grazer's Remaining Spring Cub:[]
128 Grazer's remaining spring cub is a large first-year cub with uniform, dark brown fur. This COY survived a dangerous encounter with another bear thanks to the brave intervention of it's mother, 128 Grazer. This larger littermate grew rapidly over summer, developing strong survival instincts after losing its sibling.
July 7, 2024 NPS photograph by Ranger K. Moore vs September 15, 2024 photograph courtesy of Melissa Freels (aka MelissainOR).:
Please request Melissa Freels' permission PRIOR to using her photograph!
Biography: 128 Grazer's Remaining Spring Cub
Early summer salmon fishing at Brooks River is best at Brooks Falls. It is an opportunity that many bears cannot resist, but young cubs lack the mass and experience to navigate the river as easily as larger bears. The falls are also filled with other bears, amplifying the danger to cubs who venture into the water with their mother.
On an afternoon in July 2024 this cub and its sibling were both swept over the falls as they attempted to follow their mother into the river. At the same time, a gauntlet of larger bears fished in the river below the falls. The water carried both siblings toward 32 Chunk, the most dominant bear on the river. Chunk attacked. Mother rushed to their aid, although not before Chunk injured the cub nearest to him. The sibling later died from its injuries. This Fat Bear Junior candidate survived through mother’s fearless efforts to protect her offspring and luck—the river didn’t carry him directly into Chunk unlike his sibling.
Spring cub’s hunger and growth never slows during summer. It could have tripled its body weight from late June to late September. Its survival and its sibling’s death also reinforced this cub’s innate instincts. Namely, that life can be filled with risk even when opportunity abounds.
Results: Match 1 & Match 2[]
Match 1: 806's Yearling 7,751 vs "909 Jr" 19,193[]
Match 2: 910's 2.5 Year-Old Biological Cub 12,263 vs 128 Grazer's Spring Cub 13,665[]
Match 1's Winner is 910's 3.5 Year-Old Adopted Niece/Cub (aka "909 Jr") with 19,193 votes vs 806's Yearling with 7,751 votes.
Match 2's Winner is 128 Grazer's Remaining Spring Cub with 13,665 votes vs 910's 2.5 Year-Old Biological Cub with 12,263 votes
KNP&P's September 26, 2024 17:15 Facebook Match 1 & Match 2 Results Post:
The people have spoken! Tomorrow's chubby cubby competition will be between the oldest and youngest cubs on the Brooks River. Will 910's adopted cub's (aka "909 Jr") extra years with a sow help her reclaim the crown? Or will 128 Grazer's Remaining Spring Cub (aka "128 Jr") the savvy springer steal the show?
Final Match: 128 Grazer's Spring Cub vs 910's 3.5 Year-Old Adopted Cub (aka "909 Jr"):[]
KNP&P's September 27, 2024 09:10 Final Match Facebook Post:
The final round for these rotund rivals is underway. Who will take home the Fat Bear Junior crown? The previous champion of plentiful proportions? Or the youngest cub on the river ready to reel in the ribbon? Cast your vote for the crowning champion cub.
Cam Viewers Continued Campaigning Throughout Election Day![]
128 Grazer's Spring Cub created by Cruiser (p 09/27/24 07:28 #1)
910's Adopted 3.5 Year-Old Niece/Cub (aka "909 Jr") created by Cruiser (p 09/27/24 07:28 #2)
910's Adopted 3.5 Year-Old Niece/Cub (aka "909 Jr") created by Bearoplane747 (p 9/27/24 14:24)
Endorsed by 910 & 910's 2.5 Year-Old Biological Cub (aka "910 Jr")
2024 Fat Bear Junior Finals Voting Has Ended:[]
910's 3.5 Year-Old Adopted Niece/Cub (aka "909 Jr") Wins 2024 Fat Bear Junior Championship!:[]
Results Finals Match:[]
For the second time as a cub, "909 Jr" has been crowned the queen of Fat Bear Junior!:[]
What do these belly-dragging bears win?. A successful winter hibernation! "909 Jr" and all the cubs couldn't have had a chance to win without the salmon and sows that help keep these young bears fed and full.
"909 Jr" also advances to compete in the 2024 Fat Bear Week Contest from October 2, 2024 - October 8, 2024. Let's see how far this two time Fat Bear Junior Champion can stand her ground with those independent brown bear competitors she will face.:
KNP&P's September 27, 2024 17:05 Facebook Post Declaring "909 Jr" 2024 Fat Bear Junior Champion:
"909 Jr" Moves On to 2024 Fat Bear Week October 2nd - 8th, 2024:[]
With the guidance of her adoptive aunt, 910, "909 Jr". has put on some serious weight this season and proven she’s a force to be reckoned with. Now, she's taking her spot among the big bears in Fat Bear Week, October 2nd - 8th.
Can she hold her own against the seasoned competitors? Stay tuned to see if this young cub’s hard work pays off!