Alaska’s Fat Bear Week 2025 Has A Winner! See Who’s Taken The Crown After Epic Salmon Feast

Every fall, the internet turns into one big, fuzzy celebration, and yes, it’s all about the bears.

Fat Bear Week just wrapped up for this year, and let me tell you, the competition was one for the books. The fur, the fish, the fluff; it had everything.

And when the votes finally rolled in, one big, lovable bear stood above the rest: Chunk.

If you haven’t heard of Fat Bear Week before, imagine the Olympics of chubbiness, except way cuter.

Every year, Alaska’s Katmai National Park hosts this fun, friendly showdown where fans vote online for their favorite bear as they pack on the pounds for hibernation.

The “fattest” bear isn’t about looks. It’s about survival, strength, and who can eat the most salmon before winter hits.

This year’s final face-off came down to two legends: Chunk (Bear 32) and Bear 856. Both are giant brown bears, but only one could take the crown.

And in the end, Chunk did it, snagging over 96,000 votes and stealing hearts around the world. Katmai National Park shared on Facebook:

“And with that, your 2025 Fat Bear Week comes to an end. Thank you to everyone who has voted! For the first time ever, 32 “Chunk” takes home the gold- or should we say red (because of all the salmon he ate).”

But here’s where it gets emotional. Chunk didn’t have an easy year. He showed up at Brooks River with a broken jaw, likely from a fight over a mate.

Bears in Katmai don’t get any medical help, so it was all up to him to figure things out. And somehow, he did.

He learned to fish with his injury, still managed to catch enough salmon, and transformed into one of the roundest, most resilient bears in Alaska. It’s hard not to root for a fighter like that!

His competitor, Bear 856, is no lightweight either. He’s a big, battle-tested bear who used to dominate Katmai for years.

Fat Bear Week ran from September 23 to 30, with fans voting daily as the bears munched on salmon to prepare for winter.

Katmai’s livestream cameras let people everywhere peek into this wild, fish-filled world, and it’s honestly addictive watching these massive bears chow down.

Katmai National Park, tucked deep in Alaska and reachable only by boat or plane, is home to about 2,200 brown bears. With winter creeping in, getting fat isn’t just for fun; it’s a matter of survival.

Bears can lose up to one-third of their body weight while hibernating, and female bears can’t even get pregnant unless they’ve built up enough fat reserves. Simply put, a fat bear is a healthy bear.

Of course, none of this happens without salmon, the real MVPs of Fat Bear Week. Katmai has one of the world’s healthiest sockeye salmon runs, and these fish are absolutely crucial.

Bears can eat more than 40 salmon a day. That’s around 100,000 calories! Without this abundance, the whole ecosystem would suffer.

And that’s part of what makes Fat Bear Week so special. Beyond the laughs and adorable photos, it shines a light on the connection between bears, salmon, and the environment.

So here’s to Chunk, the determined bear who turned a tough year into a victory. Until next fall, may your snacks be plenty and your naps be long, just like a true fat bear!