Grazer won her second Fat Bear Contest by defeating Chunk, the male bear that killed her cub earlier in the year. The contest, which allows fans to vote for their favorite chunky bear based on their winter preparedness, saw Grazer win by over 40,000 votes. The bears accumulate fat over the summer feeding on sockeye salmon at Brooks River in Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve.
The death of Grazer’s cub, which was killed by Chunk after slipping over a waterfall, was captured on live cameras, as was the recent killing of Bear 402 by another male bear. Grazer, known for her courage and strength, has remained a dominant presence at Brooks River, while Chunk’s size and aggression allowed him to secure prime fishing spots.
Male brown bears in mid-summer typically weigh 600 to 900 pounds, but can exceed 1,000 pounds after feasting on salmon before hibernation. The yearly Fat Bear Contest, which drew over 1.3 million votes last year, celebrates the resiliency of the 2,200 brown bears in the preserve on the Alaska Peninsula. Katmai has become a popular tourist destination for bear viewing, with viewing stands allowing people to watch the bears fish for salmon.
Overall, the contest and live cameras provide a way to appreciate and learn about the brown bears and their natural habitat, showcasing their survival skills and the challenges they face in the wild.
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