The Katmai National Park and Preserve in King Salmon, Alaska is currently holding its annual Fat Bear Week to shed some appreciation for the park's burliest bears as they get ready to hibernate. It's a great way to encourage people to do their research on the park, bears, and their hibernation habits in order to better educate themselves on the nature around them as well as park safety. Hibernation season is also prime time for park visitation, and following the proper safety rules when around bear territory is key. Katmai National Park and Preserve is educating people in a fun way.
The park has gone so far as to even make a bracket of their heftiest bears for you to follow or create your own from. The deadline, or "Fat Bear Tuesday," is on October 6th, so you'd better get your bracket together before then. Here's a look at some of the contestants...
A champion several years running, Otis currently weighs in at 470. He's slated to win the 2020 bracket, but his fiercest competitor, Holly, has done quite the pre-hibernation weight gain. She was 2019's Fat Bear champ, and currently weighs 435. Who will win this year? These two are only a couple of the park's competitors. Keep up with the bracket at the park's website until October 6th.