Gentle giant Backpack wins Alaska’s Fat Bear Week | News
Fat Bear Week Crowned Champion Backpack After Intense Competition
Published: September 30, 2026
KATMAI NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE, Alaska – After a week of rigorous competition, Backpack has been named the champion of Fat Bear Week, the annual celebration of the robust brown bears residing in Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve. The contest concluded with Backpack, the park’s heftiest bear, receiving over 100,000 votes from the public.
The nonprofit organization overseeing the contest announced Backpack’s victory on Tuesday after a close poll, where he garnered just over 50 percent of the votes, defeating his opponent Bear 910.
Now in its 12th year, Fat Bear Week highlights the resilience of approximately 2,200 brown bears that inhabit the preserve, which stretches from Alaska’s southwest corner towards the Aleutian Islands. The event, which began in 2014, aims to raise awareness about brown bears, which are closely related to grizzly bears.
Last year’s champion, Chunk—officially known as Bear 32—was eliminated in the first round this year by Bucky, who later lost to Backpack in the semifinals.
This year, 16 bears participated in a single-elimination tournament. Participants were featured on live cameras, allowing the public to observe their antics before casting their votes online. The final results were announced on Tuesday evening.
The nonprofit emphasizes that “fat bears are successful bears.” During the summer months, these animals feast on the salmon that return to the Brooks River, allowing them to accumulate the necessary fat reserves for winter hibernation. To qualify for the competition, the bears must regularly visit the river area.
A Legacy of Gentle Strength
Backpack is the offspring of former champion Holly, who first brought him to the Brooks River as a cub in 2006. His name reflects his tendency to climb onto his mother’s back during swims. Fans noted Backpack’s gentle demeanor in social media comments, praising his calm nature despite his size.
His contestant profile highlights that, unlike many large male bears, Backpack exhibits minimal aggression and prefers to showcase his “quiet strength.” He is often photographed sitting on a rock, enjoying his surroundings.
In the finals, Backpack outperformed Bear 910, who is also the daughter of a past champion, Bear 409 Beadnose.
Adult male brown bears typically weigh between 600 and 900 pounds during midsummer. By the time winter approaches, after consuming significant amounts of salmon, large males can exceed 1,000 pounds. Females generally weigh about one-third less. During peak season, bears can consume as many as 30 fish daily, preparing for hibernation during the six-month period of winter.
During hibernation, bears do not eat or drink and can lose up to one-third of their body weight.
The competition this year also recognized five bear families, reflecting a record number of families and cubs at Brooks River. Mothers must eat enough to sustain themselves while also protecting their cubs, who face threats from other bears due to territorial disputes and food scarcity.
Notably, Bear 132 and her three spring cubs reached the semifinals before being eliminated by Bear 910. Bear 132 is recognized as one of the largest and most experienced mothers at Brooks River. Earlier this season, one of her cubs temporarily strayed from the family but was successfully reunited after several days.
