History of Fat Bear Week in Timeline
Fat Bear Week is an annual event hosted each October by Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska. It celebrates the remarkable weight gain of brown bears preparing for winter hibernation. Organized by the National Park Service and Explore.org, this event engages a global audience who votes online for the bear they deem most successful in fattening up. The competition highlights the fascinating adaptation strategies of these animals and draws attention to the natural wonders of Katmai.
2014: Fat Bear Tuesday
Former park ranger Mike Fitz established Fat Bear Tuesday in 2014, inspired by the popularity of online bear livestreams at Katmai National Park.
2015: Digital Expansion to Fat Bear Week
The Fat Bear competition transitioned to a digital format and was extended to a week-long event in 2015.
2021: Introduction of Fat Bear Junior
The year 2021 saw the debut of the Fat Bear Junior bracket, a new addition to Fat Bear Week featuring young bear cubs.
2022: Voter Fraud Controversy
The 2022 Fat Bear Week was marked by a voter fraud controversy during the semi-finals, temporarily raising concerns about the competition's integrity.
September 5, 2023: Hiker Rescue
On September 5, 2023, a Fat Bear Week webcam on Dumpling Mountain captured a hiker in distress. Viewers alerted authorities, leading to the hiker's rescue by park rangers.
2023: Fat Bear Week 2023
Fat Bear Week took place from October 4 to October 10 in 2023.
2023: Alaska's Most-Watched Popularity Contest
In 2023, the AP News dubbed Fat Bear Week as "Alaska's most-watched popularity contest."