Bear Battle Continues!

Grazer, a dominant female brown bear from Katmai National Park, secured her second consecutive victory in the 2024 Fat Bear Week competition, besting her male rival Chunk in the final vote. Grazer received over 71,000 votes, showcasing her prowess in fattening up for winter. Learn more about Fat Bear Week 2024, and the intense competition between the bears. Source: The Washington Times.

Newstro Quick Facts

• Grazer, a female brown bear, has won Fat Bear Week for the second year in a row, receiving over 71,000 votes in 2024, compared to her rival Chunk’s 30,000 votes.
• The competition, held at Katmai National Park in Alaska, allows the public to vote on which bear has fattened up the most for winter hibernation, using live-streamed feeds from Explore.org.
• In a dramatic moment earlier this year, Grazer defended her cubs from an attack by Chunk, but tragically, one of the cubs died from injuries sustained in the incident.

The 2024 Fat Bear Week at Katmai National Park culminated in another victory for 128 Grazer, who outlasted her long-time rival, 32 Chunk. This annual event, organized by Explore.org and Katmai National Park, invites the public to vote on which bear they believe has fattened up the most in preparation for hibernation. Grazer secured her second straight win, this time with a commanding lead of over 71,000 votes compared to Chunk’s 30,000.

Fat Bear Week has become a much-anticipated tradition, drawing attention to the vital role that bears play in the ecosystem at Katmai. Live-streamed feeds along the Brooks River allow viewers to observe the bears in action as they fish for salmon, gaining the necessary weight to survive the winter. The event highlights not just the bears’ remarkable ability to adapt, but also the importance of conservation efforts in protecting these magnificent animals and their habitats.

This year’s contest was tinged with drama as Grazer found herself in a life-and-death struggle earlier in the season. In July, while fishing with her cubs, Grazer’s offspring were swept over the Brooks Falls and found themselves in a vulnerable position near Chunk. Chunk attacked the cubs, injuring one fatally before Grazer could intervene. Despite this tragedy, Grazer’s strength and resilience were on full display, and her victory in the 2024 contest solidified her status as a formidable bear in the region.

Term	Definition
Katmai National Park	A national park in Alaska, known for its brown bear population and the annual Fat Bear Week competition.
Brown Bear	A large bear species found across North America and Eurasia, known for its hibernation habits.
Explore.org	An organization that operates live-streamed wildlife feeds, including Katmai’s bear cams.
Fat Bear Week	An annual competition at Katmai National Park where the public votes on the fattest bear preparing for hibernation.
Salmon	A species of fish critical to the bears’ diet at Katmai, especially during the pre-hibernation months.
Hibernation	A state of inactivity and metabolic depression in animals, allowing them to survive winter with minimal food.
Brooks Falls	A famous waterfall at Katmai National Park where brown bears fish for salmon.
Bear Behavior	The range of actions and habits exhibited by bears, particularly in relation to feeding and protecting cubs.

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