The Wildest Reality Show in Alaska Is Fat Bear Week

Fat Bear Week, hosted by Katmai National Park in Alaska, draws bated breath from viewers every year. It’s an annual online tournament where people vote to crown the bear that’s best bulked up for hibernation. And the real question is…who’s your favorite? ___ A little more information: Fat Bear Week takes place every fall at Alaska’s Katmai National Park, where brown bears prepare for hibernation by doing their favorite activity: eating. This event invites the public to vote for the bear that has most successfully gained weight over the summer. Featuring before and after photos of the park’s brown bears as they gorge on salmon, the event highlights their survival skills—and the importance of a healthy ecosystem. As winter approaches, these bears consume vast quantities of salmon, sometimes gaining hundreds of pounds in just a few months. This fat helps them survive the long winter months without food while they remain dormant in their dens. Fat Bear Week not only celebrates these feats of nature but also highlights the crucial work of conservation efforts at Katmai. Check out explore.org to learn more and watch the live cam. For 2025, Fat Bear Week is here early. The tournament began on September 23 and continues until September 30—when a winner will be announced. Don’t forget to cast your votes here: https://www.explore.org/fat-bear-week #fatbearweek #grizzlybear #bears #wildlife #animalfacts #nature #alaska Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine Learn more about Fat Bear Week—and 2024 fan favorites—here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/highly-defensive-mother-bear-grazer-defeats-male-that-killed-her-cub-to-win-fat-bear-week-180985241/ How the bears at Alaska’s Katmai National Park became celebrities: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/how-the-bears-at-alaskas-katmai-national-park-became-celebrities-180980894/ Before Fat Bear Week, don’t forget the corpulent cubs competing in Fat Bear Junior: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/before-fat-bear-week-dont-forget-the-cubs-competing-in-fat-bear-junior-180982973/ For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/original-series/ Get More Smithsonian Magazine: Official Site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianmagazine/ X: https://x.com/smithsonianmag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SmithsonianMagazine/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer: Michelle Mehrtens Scriptwriter: Carlyn Kranking Video Editor & Narrator: Adam Benavides