Meet The Champions of Fat Bear Week 2022

Each year, Fat Bear Week celebrates the adaptability and success of Katmai National Park and Preserve's brown bears. As these bears pack on the pounds for winter hibernation in Alaska, fans from around the world vote for who will be crowned Fat Bear Week 2022 Champion.

Scroll through to feast your eyes on the new champ and all the contenders with captions provided by Katmai.

October 11, 2022

By: Discovery

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Photo By: Lian Law

Bear 856

856 is one of the most dominant bears at the falls; his only real competition is 747. He is aggressive and protective of his fishing spots, especially with younger, smaller bears. 856’s intimidating demeanor helps him maintain his long-standing rank within the hierarchy. Unlike many male bears, 856 has relatively few scars, a sign that his presence alone is often enough to deter physical altercations. That being said, 856 will not shy away from confrontation when it’s to his benefit.

Bear 164

164’s preferred fishing spot is at the base of the falls, sandwiched between the lip and the jacuzzi. 164 has shown great ingenuity in finding this unique spot not frequented by other bears. His innovative technique and location has given him access to the resources he needs without many confrontations with the more dominant bears at the falls. His behavior demonstrates both the creativity and sociability needed by younger bears using Brooks River.

Bear 435 Holly

335 was emancipated by her mother 435 Holly, this spring. Subadults, essentially the teenagers of the bear world, rank lowest in the bear hierarchy. They also face some of the toughest challenges as they must learn to navigate the world without mom for the first time. In the beginning of the season, she appeared to be struggling with the separation from her mother and seemed to be quite skinny. She often followed 435 downriver, but 435 continued to reinforce the separation. Eventually, 435 relented and tolerated 335 occasionally fishing nearby. She has since gained the weight critical to her survival this winter. Like many subadults, she has been seen playing and hanging out with other bears her age, a common behavior amongst newly independent bears.

Bear 335

Bear 32

32 Chunk is consistently one of the largest and most dominant bears at the falls. In previous years, he weighed an estimated 1,200 lbs in fall. He frequently occupies the best fishing spots on the river and has access to the best mating opportunities. He is a patient bear and will occupy the same spot for extended periods of time. Despite his fishing skills, he often waits for scraps and leftovers from other bears. But at the same time, he does not hesitate to challenge and displace others from the resources he wants. His range of behaviors demonstrates his opportunistic strategy and his individuality.

Bear 128 Grazer

128 Grazer is one of the larger and more dominant females to fish the falls. She can be an especially defensive and assertive bear when she has cubs, or when defending a prime fishing location. She has been known to push other bears away when they get too close. This year, she kept her cubs for a third summer, giving the cubs extra time to perfect their fishing techniques and build their skills under her protection. 128's disposition allows her and her cubs access to some of the best fishing spots on the river.

Bear 480

480 Otis was the Fat Bear Week Champion in 2021, adding another crown to his previous three in 2014, 2016, and 2017. Despite his missing teeth, he is still successful at fishing and puts on significant weight each year. He returned to the falls looking much healthier than last year. As an older bear, he often yields space to more dominant bears. He successfully uses a more patient strategy, employing a sit-and-wait method to conserve the energy that is so valuable when trying to gain weight for the winter.

Bear 854

Like many bears, 854 Divot uses the river seasonally, following the salmon. In 2014, she appeared briefly with two yearlings but left shortly after. When she returned to Brooks, she only had one cub and an illegal wolf snare around her neck. Park rangers subsequently removed the snare but 854 still bears the resulting scar- a reminder of the impact of our presence and the challenges that bears face beyond Katmai’s boundaries. Despite these adversities, 854 was and continues to be a resilient and successful bear.

Bear 151

151 Walker is a frequent user of Brooks Falls. He is one of the largest bears to use the river. His size and assertive disposition give him his choice of preferred fishing areas. He is a skilled angler at fishing the lip of the falls, something not many large, dominant boars do. His range of fishing spots are an indicator of his adaptability and skill. As a young adult, 151 used to play frequently, but now he prioritizes fishing over play. His many scars demonstrate the challenges of being a large, dominant bear.

Bear 191

Even as a young bear, 901 was independent and mature. She was observed charging other bears that tried to play with her and actively defended her fishing spots as a subadult. As an adult, she still displays much of that independence and disposition, as is evidenced by her successful fishing season. She is both exploratory and occasionally mischievous. This year, we saw her exhibiting these qualities by frequenting Brooks Camp and investigating human structures. Bears are curious creatures and while we have the privilege of watching bears in the wild, it’s important to remember that we are just visitors in their home.

Bear 747

And the winner is.... 747!

This year's giant king also claimed the title of Fat Bear Champion in 2020. Due to his large size and his assertive disposition, he has ascended to the top of the hierarchy at Brooks Falls. The high concentration of salmon draws a large number of bears to the falls. In order to minimize conflict, bears establish a hierarchy where the most dominant bears gain the best access to fishing locations and mating opportunities. Unlike many bears, 747’s size alone is enough to intimidate most bears to yield their space. His dominance combined with his fishing skills allows him to build up substantial fat reserves for the winter. Even in early summer, he still carries the weight of his previous successes.