We now know who wears the Fat Bear crown.
When all of the votes were counted, 128 Grazer beat out 32 Chunk to win the championship.
Katmai National Park & Preserve said “The gutsy girl grounded the guy with a gut,” and will be added to the “Hall of Chompions.”
Voters have spoken LOUDLY. (You practically screamed at us.) We have our 2023 #FatBearWeek winner: 128 Grazer! 🥳 The...
Posted by Katmai National Park & Preserve on Tuesday, October 10, 2023
Past winners of both the junior and adult competitions include:
- 2014 - 480 Otis
- 2015 - 409 Beadnose
- 2016 - 480 Otis
- 2017 - 480 Otis
- 2018 - 409 Beadnose
- 2019 - 435 Holly
- 2020 - 747
- 2021 - Fat Bear Junior: 132′s spring cub. Fat Bear Week 2021: 480 Otis
- 2022 - Fat Bear Junior: 909′s yearling. Fat Bear Week 2022: 747
- 2023 - Fat Bear Junior: 806′s spring cub. Fat Bear Week 2023: 128 Grazer
Fat Bear Week is an annual celebration where bears are voted upon not only for fun to name a champion but to also shine a light on the Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska.
It also highlights how bears prepare for their months-long hibernation, packing on pounds before they crawl into their cozy spots for a long nap.
Bears have to eat about a year’s worth of food in six months since while they’re sleeping over the next few months they will be using up their fat reserves. The animals end up losing about a third of their body weight.