Queen of Fat Bear Week 128 Grazer was overwhelmingly chosen as the winner of the 2023 Fat Bear Week (F. Jimenez/Katmai National Park & Preserve/Flickr)
By Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
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.
Fat Bear Week 2023 32 Chunk (Skinny) (K. Moore/Katmai National Park & Preserve/Flickr)
Fat Bear Week 2023 32 Chunk (Fat) (F. Jimenez/Katmai National Park & Preserve/Flickr)
Fat Bear Week 2023 128 Grazer Skinny (N. Boak/Katmai National Park & Preserve/Flickr)
Fat Bear Week 2023 128 Grazer (Fat) (F. Jimenez/Katmai National Park & Preserve/Flickr)
Fat Bear Week 2023 151 (Fat) (K. Moore/Katmai National Park & Preserve/Flickr)
Fat Bear Week 2023 151 (Skinny) (N. Boak/Katmai National Park & Preserve/Flickr)
Fat Bear Week 2023 151 (Fat) (K. Moore/Katmai National Park & Preserve/Flickr)
Fat Bear Week 2023 164 (Skinny) (T. Carmack/Katmai National Park & Preserve/Flickr)
Fat Bear Week 2023 164 (Fat) (K. Moore /Katmai National Park & Preserve/Flickr)
Fat Bear Week 2023 284 (Skinny) (T. Carmack/Katmai National Park & Preserve/Flickr)
Fat Bear Week 2023 284 (Skinny) (T. Carmack/Katmai National Park & Preserve/Flickr)
Fat Bear Week 2023 402 (Skinny) (N. Boak/Katmai National Park & Preserve/Flickr)
Fat Bear Week 2023 402 (Fat) (K. Moore/Katmai National Park & Preserve/Flickr)
Fat Bear Week 2023 428 (Skinny) (F. Jimenez/Katmai National Park & Preserve/Flickr)
Fat Bear Week 2023 428 (Fat) (F. Jimenez/Katmai National Park & Preserve/Flickr)
Fat Bear Week 2023 435 Holly (Skinny) (T. Carmack/Katmai National Park & Preserve/Flickr)
Fat Bear Week 2023 435 Holly (Fat) (F. Jimenez/Katmai National Park & Preserve/Flickr)
Fat Bear Week 2023 435 Holly (Fat) (K. Moore/Katmai National Park & Preserve/Flickr)
Fat Bear Week 2023 480 Otis (Skinny) (N. Boak/Katmai National Park & Preserve/Flickr)
Fat Bear Week 2023 480 Otis (Fat) (F. Jimenez/Katmai National Park & Preserve/Flickr)
Fat Bear Week 2023 747 (Skinny) (F. Jimenez/Katmai National Park & Preserve/Flickr)
Fat Bear Week 2023 747 (Fat) (C. Cravatta/Katmai National Park & Preserve/Flickr)
Fat Bear Week 2023 806 Jr. (Skinny) (T. Carmack/Katmai National Park & Preserve/Flickr)
Fat Bear Week 2023 806 Jr. (Fat) (F. Jimenez/Katmai National Park & Preserve/Flickr)
Fat Bear Week 2023 901 (Skinny) (N. Boak/Katmai National Park & Preserve/Flickr)
Fat Bear Week 2023 901 (Fat) (K. Moore/Katmai National Park & Preserve/Flickr)