Fat Bear Week returns, spotlight on Mama Bear #132

natureSep 21, 2026893,592

Katmai National Park's Fat Bear Week returns and voting opens Tuesday, September 22 at 12 p.m. EDT. First-time entrant Bear #132 drew attention after one of her spring cubs became separated around mid-July, wandered alone near Brooks River for several days while being chased or ignored by other bears, and was later reunited with 132. Bear #132 emerged this year with three cubs, her fourth known litter, and was first identified in 2009 as a 4.5-year-old subadult. Explore.org noted that 132's experience at Brooks River likely helped her keep her cubs safe. In the first-round bracket, Bear #132 faces Bear #284 Electra and her two cubs. Fat Bear Week is a single-elimination online tournament that began as a one-day event in 2014 with 1,700 votes and grew to 1.2 million votes from over 100 countries by 2024. The contest centers on Brooks Falls brown bears feeding on the late June salmon migration to build fat reserves needed to survive winter torpor.

Sleezy 🔆COMMS OPEN🔆

@sleezyslob.bsky.social

Happy Fat Bear Week~🐻 Lil' doodle I drew for @soildweller.bsky.social

44818d ago

SWW 🐺🌕🔞1

OH MY the colors??? Everything is so good, holy shit!!

Zignoll1

But Mr. Bear turned out so cute

Cass ʕ´•㉨•`ʔ1

Thank you again sleezy :OD

GayTeddiursa

@gayteddiursa.bsky.social

Well it's fat bear week. Let's get a thread going of bear bellies 🐻

47418d ago

🥀🦇𝕱𝖆𝖓𝖌𝖇𝖆𝖓𝖌𝖊𝖗 𝕭𝖊𝖆𝖗 ⚰️🥀24

I don’t have anything recent. Hopefully this’ll do? 😘

AleBear2

UK bear checking in 🐻

Gummibear

@gummibear23.bsky.social

Application for Fat Bear Week, please consider my body of work.

28018d ago

CameronHOPS

@cameronhops.bsky.social

With this being Fat Bear Week, here's a wide Baloo! #fatfur #HOPSart #FatBearWeek

20818d ago

🐢🍄VectorVictor🍄🐢2

You did an incredible job

Calbar 🐻1

Now THIS is what I'd call the Bear Necessities!

Tobias Foxtail Birthday! (8/19) 🦊🐾🐾1

Amazing work! ^^ Best Fat Bear Around! ;3

Artemis1

@cameronhops.bsky.social that looks like a bear that will survive the winter

Ian Coldwater 🧊🚫

@lookitup.baby

VERY IMPORTANT NEWS: It’s Fat Bear Week! I do love a fat bear 🐻 explore.org/fat-bear-week

18518d ago

Willy Lee (they/them)3

This has been a hard Fat Bear season for us Grazer fans

spookitty, esq.1

my bf and my parents dog both like watching these bears catch salmon 😂

For in-depth, daily updates from Na Mee www.ktoo.org/2026/09/18/f...

Quoting this

ele10

I too love fat bears but also watching bears prepare to hibernate is great as well

Megan Goodwin5

FUCK YEAH FAT BEAR WEEK

Edward Swaine2

"major ursa" was right there

jay marie 🏳️‍⚧️ abolish ice2

🚨 not a drill 🐻

Tigburr : Pantry Punisher => MFF

@burnedoutparadise.bsky.social

Just on the way to steal from the rich and give to the poor NBD. Little John needed some love. Happy Fat Bear Week.

15018d ago

SolOso ☀️🐻1

Halloween costume ideas you'd look great in~

Suzanne ✨🌑

@tendermiasma.com

happy fat bear week to clover specifically you lucky pos

19618d ago

Harro✨5

Please tell me Halsin participates 🤣🤣

Lel2

I am both jealous and very happy for Clover

Shlooby1

In the spirit of fat bear week, I would love a picture of Halsin in his chunky bear form cuddling with a very happy clover 🥹

Barnaby

@barnaby.bsky.social

Theo would like to wish a happy Fat Bear Week to everyone who celebrates! Artwork by @baddieholly.bsky.social, @soulsilverdragon.bsky.social, @sidian.bsky.social, and @professor-fluffers.bsky.social, respectively.

12018d ago

Hoglly (comms closed)2

Post the pool toy one!

Mx Jean Grey, Bear Princess1

In my house, every week is Fat Bear Week.

quasiotter1

i also have a lumbersexual bear..... well i live in the PNW so it think it's a legal obligation (he's the mascot for my local bear group)

Robert James Tremor1

You know this post has me thirsty.

Aki the Lattenuki1

wishing him a Happy Fat Bear Week too, he seems lovely <3 would absolutely pamper him with pancakes in bed

reni 🦌

@reniadeb.com

don't forget to put out salmon and berries tonight under the fat bear tree or else fat bear santa won't leave you any fat bear presents

10019d ago

Cass ʕ´•㉨•`ʔ

@soildweller.bsky.social

HAPPY FAT BEAR WEEK! I am celebrating by going out and ordering the biggest burger they have at wetherspoons and probably fudge cake for dessert. May all my other bears have a great week

12318d ago

AnotherMeekOne🔜MFF7

Enjoy being cultured and connecting with your people (eating a giant burger and getting fat as possible)

☾al | COMMS OPEN5

Sounds like an excellent feast! Happy Fat Bear Week Cass!!! 🐻

Kowo3

Happy fat bear week to you too! 🙌🐻🎉

Fern the wolf2

Wholesome way to celebrate this week!

Furry Trash ( ＾ω＾ ) 🏳️‍🌈1

Happy fat bear weak from an Otter. We love you guys. OwO

jerard @Shadowbringers1

Enjoy that burger you deserve it

Lisa 🇨🇦

@pinkmouse.bsky.social

Yes the Fat Bear obsession is real. This is a really great article from the NYT last year about the winner Chunk. ♥️ Chunk weighed around 1200 lbs. His story is also extremely interesting. It attests to his ability to not only survive but thrive with a broken jaw. #Timelinecleanse #Blues #SheShed

6119d ago

Steve in Manhattan2

dude's got a long winter to get through ...

Dawn 🇨🇦🇺🇦🇺🇸🫣2

Yeah at 1200 that jaw was working pretty darn well! Way to go Chunk!

🇨🇦Kanien'kéha🪶2

Oh yeah. I remember that. I didn't understand what all the hype was about chunky bears. Now I get it... I think. 🤣

wren 🐻 on VGen!

@lunarvvrens.bsky.social

Happy fat bear week 🐻 Much love to fat bears of all kinds! #furry #art #furryart #bear

Digital drawing of my black bear fursona

6518d ago

Eazy_EHonda (Pavlo the Bear) 🔜 MFF

@eazyehonda.bsky.social

This big burr is gonna post some past art pieces each day of Fat Bear Week! Sometimes, ya overdo the bulking a bit and burst a button (or several 😅). Art done by the lovely @karrnade.bsky.social who draws some amazing big boys!