Alaska’s Fat Bear Week: And the winner is… Otis! Or how to make patience a virtue

Brown bears are one of the longest hibernators. Their winter rest can last up to half a year, for example from October to June. All this time they are not eating, so for the rest of their waking time they have to eat their stomachs as best and literally as possible. The more weight they put into hibernation, the higher their chance of survival, and the earlier mating season is in the spring.

October is usually the month when the bears are at their height. who inspired her Katmai National Park and Reserve In Alaska a few years ago in a new tradition: the annual Fat Bear WeekIn other words, the competition “Who will be the fattest bear”. Keepers choose 12 bears from their population of 2,200 brown bears, which are played against each other in the preliminary rounds. People can compare photos and vote before and after on social media, until at last there is only one bear left who can put the proverbial crown on its head.

And this crown holds 480 this year, “Otis”, Male bear who is part of Brooks River holds, a group of bears that live near the salmon-rich river of the same name that flows through the park. It looks like Otis was born to win: He actually won the competition in 2014, 2016 and 2017.