Fat Bear Week begins with online voting to determine fattest beast in Alaska

Alaska Fat Bear week has kicked off on Tuesday, September 23, with online voting to determine the chunkiest and the chubbiest brown bear in the region.

Livestreaming cameras have been set up where people can watch the activities of the bears as they will be voting to determine the fattest one from the 12 contestants including the two-time defending champion Grazer.

Fat Bear Week has been held every year since 2014 by the National Park Service to showcase the resilience of brown bears. The competition offers only recognition and no prize money to the winner.

The viewers can vote at www(dot)fatbearweek(dot)org and the winner will be declared on September 30, 2025.

According to NBC News, the competition is a single-elimination, bracket-style tournament. The tournament works as follows:

Round 1 (Opening Round)

• 8 bears compete in 4 matchups
• Winners: 4 advance

Round 2 (Quarterfinals)

• 4 Round 1 winners
• Face 4 bears with first-round byes
• 8 total bears, 4 winners advance

Round 3 (Semifinals)

• 4 remaining bears compete in 2 matchups
• 2 winners advance

Round 4 (Final)

• 2 finalists face off
• 1 champion crowned

Alaska is home to nearly 30,000 of the brown bear population.