Backpack Reigns as Alaska's Fattest Bear

The hunt for Alaska’s Fattest Bear has come to an end.  A new Fat Bear Week Champion has been crowned. The competition between the two finalists was intense, but Bear 89 - “Backpack” came out on top, defeating Bear 910 - “Dancing Queen” by just 2% of the votes.

Backpack is the son of Holly, the 2018 Fat Bear Week Champion. He earned his name as a tiny cub by climbing on his mother’s back whenever they swam in the river. He then overcame a serious leg injury as a yearling that threatened his survival. As an adult, Backpack has been described as a gentle diplomat, rarely showing aggressive behavior toward other bears.  

Backpack’s journey to get the championship round was difficult. 

In a tight quarterfinal match. Backpack defeated “Bucky” by a very slim margin. Bucky came into that round, having defeated the reigning Fat Bear Champion, known as “Chunk”.

The runner-up, Dancing Queen, dominated her side of the bracket, easily grazing her way to the finals. She is the daughter of Bear 409 - Beadnose, who was the winner of two previous Fat Bear Titles.

The Fat Bear contest originated in 2014 as a way for Katmai National Park to celebrate the resilience of the park’s bears and to educate the public. The event has since become quite popular. Over 200,000 people voted in this year’s final contest. More information on the park’s bears can be found on the website, Explore.org.