Heavyweight Champ

For brown bears, bigger is better. And few bears can match the size of Bear Force One. For the second time in three years, he won the Fat Bear Week competition. This battle of the bears takes place in Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska. 

“It’s a chance to celebrate the work that bears put into getting fat to survive,” says Mike Fitz. He’s a former park ranger who started the Fat Bear contest in 2014. 

Brown bears in Katmai usually begin hibernating in November. They dig dens on steep slopes and rest inside. During hibernation, their body fat helps keep them warm—and alive. 

To bulk up for their winter sleep, bears chow down on anything they can get their paws on—especially their favorite food, salmon. 

In October, park rangers posted before-and-after photos of 12 Katmai bears on social media. People picked the bear they thought packed on the most pounds. More than a million votes flooded in, and Bear Force One was the big winner. He tipped the scales at about 1,400 pounds. Fitz doesn’t think the bear will have a problem fattening up again for next year’s contest.

“He’s a real giant,” Fitz says. “He is big enough to take over the best fishing spots.”