Overview

• Public voting for Fat Bear Junior runs Sept. 18–19, and the juvenile winner advances to the main bracket.
• Katmai will announce the 12 adult contestants on Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. ET on the Brooks Live Chat, with main voting Sept. 23–30 at FatBearWeek.org.
• Organizers report an exceptional salmon run that eased competition at Brooks Falls and could yield the fattest field yet.
• Two-time champion 128 Grazer returns with one of her cubs competing in Fat Bear Junior, while rival Chunk has adapted to a permanently broken jaw and remains a top forager.
• Because bears aren’t weighed, voters compare before-and-after photos and livecams, with large males often exceeding 1,000 pounds by fall.