Fat Bear Week 2025 Finale: Celebrating Survival and Awareness

Vote for the fattest bear and learn about their incredible survival strategies. This year's finale highlights the impact of climate change on these magnificent creatures.

, and ASMedia

2025 October 1 . 8:25 PM

1 min read

This image consists of a bear. It is in brown color. At the bottom, there is ground. On which we... — This image consists of a bear. It is in brown color. At the bottom, there is ground. On which we can see the snow. On the right, there are stems of a plants.

Fat Bear Week 2025 Finale: Celebrating Survival and Awareness

Fat Bear Week, an annual online competition hosted by Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska, has reached its finale for 2025. This year marks the event's eleventh anniversary, attracting bear enthusiasts worldwide. The competition, which began in 2014, aims to raise awareness about the ecosystem and habitat of over 2,000 brown bears in the region, and the challenges they face.

During the competition, voters consider the life histories of the contending bears, reflecting the harshness of their environment and competition. For brown bears, getting fat is a matter of survival, as they must bulk up for a long seasonal slumber. Some Alaskan or Scandinavian bears might spend up to seven months in their dens during torpor. Coastal Alaskan brown bears can gain more than 2 kg per day, consuming up to 40 fish a day. During hyperphagia, bears become obsessed with finding the fattest, sweetest, and most protein-rich foods. Pregnant female bears give birth, lactate, and rear cubs during their period of hibernation.

Bears are paired in single elimination match ups, with voters choosing based on which bear 'exemplifies fatness and success'. Climate change may disrupt bears' hibernation patterns and food resources, potentially leading to nutritional imbalances and behavioral changes.

Fat Bear Week serves as an engaging way to educate the public about the lives of these magnificent creatures and the threats they face. As the competition grows in popularity, it continues to raise awareness and support for the conservation of brown bears and their habitats.