It is time. Buckle up for the bodacious, blubbery bonanza of Fat Bear Week! The brackets are set and voting begins today! Thick thighs save lives. Katmai National Park & Preserve’s bears have been bulking up to prep for winter. Always remember, fat bears are successful bears. There’s no fat shaming here. In brown bears, large amounts of body fat are indicative of good health and strong chances of survival. The bears need stores of fat to help them survive winter hibernation, which can last for months. While in the den, a bear can lose up to one-third of its body mass. To pack on the pounds, the bears have been gorging on the richest and most accessible foods they can find. In Katmai, that often means salmon. Let’s all take a moment to thank the salmon. What is Fat Bear Week? It’s kinda a BIG deal. Fat Bear Week is a single-elimination tournament. For each match-up, vote for the bear you believe best exemplifies fatness and success. Who’s ready? Meet the bears, study the bracket, ...