All Hail 747, The Fattest Bear

The votes are in: 747 is the champion of Fat Bear Week 2022. Yesterday was Fat Bear Tuesday, which marked one last showdown after a week of fierce competition between the gorging grizzlies of Katmai National Park and Preserve, and the hefty bruin came out ahead.

Weighing in at almost a ton, this behemoth of a brown bear reigned over Brooks Falls this season, dominating the best fishing spots and using his size to assert his sovereignty over the other ursines. He beat out newcomer 901 in the finals, who shocked fans with her success as a first-time Fat Bear Week competitor.

747 won Fat Bear Week in 2020, when more than 640,000 voters participated in the online bracket-style tournament. Since then, he’s continued his ascent to the top, eventually surpassing 856 as dominant bear at Brooks Falls. His place at the top of the hierarchy allowed 747 access to the best fishing spots this summer and fall. His impressive weight gain over the last few months is a testament to 747’s skill as an angler and determination to spend the winter warm and well-fed in his den. 

Runner-up 901 deserves recognition for her impressive rise from underdog to finalist. It takes guts (or one really flabby gut, at least) to rival a legend like 747, but this youngster emerged from near-anonymity to claw her way up the leaderboard. At only 6.5 years old, 901 doesn’t have the experience, the respect, or the sheer size that 747 does, but she proved herself a strong contender nonetheless. She’s been called a “rising star” by park officials due to her proficient weight gain and increasing popularity among viewers at home. 

According to explore.org, 747 is one of the largest brown bears on the planet. When it comes down to it, the other bears just didn’t stand a chance.