Fat Bear Week in Katmai: Why We Love September
Why September Is Secretly Our Favorite Month in Katmai
What Is Fat Bear Week in Katmai National Park?
Fat Bear Week is an annual, lighthearted, yet deeply educational, celebration of Katmai’s brown bears at their healthiest. It highlights the bears’ success in feeding on salmon throughout the summer and preparing for winter hibernation.
While it’s playful on the surface, Fat Bear Week is rooted in ecology, conservation, and public education. It reminds people that fat bears are healthy bears, and that thriving salmon runs and intact ecosystems are what make this possible.
How Did Fat Bear Week Start?
Fat Bear Week began in 2014 as a simple bracket-style competition designed to engage the public and celebrate Katmai’s bears at peak condition. What started as a fun way to highlight seasonal changes quickly grew into an internationally recognized event.
Today, Fat Bear Week has become:
A global wildlife phenomenon
A celebration of conservation success
A way to connect people to Katmai’s ecosystem, even from afar
Each year, it draws hundreds of thousands of participants from around the world.
How Does Fat Bear Week Work?
Fat Bear Week takes place in late September to early October, when bears have reached their maximum pre-hibernation weight.
Here’s how it works:
Individual bears are selected based on their visible transformation over the season
Bears are matched head-to-head in a bracket-style tournament
The public votes on which bear they believe is “fatter”
One bear advances from each matchup until a champion is crowned
Voting is open to everyone, and each matchup includes photos and information about the bears’ summer journeys.
Past Fat Bear Week Winners
Over the years, several iconic Katmai bears have earned Fat Bear Week titles, each with their own story and following. Some bears have even won multiple times, becoming fan favorites and symbols of successful seasons.
Last year’s winner, Bear 32 “Chunk,” captured the public’s attention with an impressive transformation and undeniable presence, earning votes from fans around the world. Other well-known champions include Bear 128 “Grazer,” celebrated for her consistency, strength, and long-term success as a mother, and bears like 747, whose sheer size and dominance made him an unforgettable contender. Each winner tells a different story, highlighting that there’s no single path to success- just a healthy ecosystem that allows bears to thrive.
Why Fat Bear Week Matters
Beyond the fun, Fat Bear Week serves an important purpose.
It helps people understand:
Why salmon are critical to bear survival
How protected landscapes support healthy wildlife
What successful conservation actually looks like
By celebrating fat bears, Fat Bear Week celebrates intact food webs, clean water, and wild places doing exactly what they’re meant to do.
Why September Is One of Our Favorite Months:
Autumn Color, Cinematic Light
September feels like Katmai’s grand finale.
The tundra transforms into sweeping reds, oranges, and golds, and the bears reach their fullest, most impressive size of the year. After a summer of nonstop feeding, their movements slow and become more deliberate as they pack on the final calories needed for winter hibernation. Everything feels heavier, quieter, and more intentional.
For photographers, September offers some of the best light of the entire season. The shorter days create long, moody dawns and dusks, with soft transitions instead of harsh midday sun. Mist rises off lakes in the morning, clouds slide dramatically across mountainsides, and shifting weather brings texture and depth to the landscape. It’s cinematic in a way summer simply can’t replicate.
Weather in September is more variable—rain, fog, wind, and crisp mornings are common—but those changes are exactly what create the drama photographers love. The skies feel alive. Light filters through clouds instead of blasting down from above. It’s less about perfection and more about atmosphere.
And yes—September also means fewer mosquitoes. Cooler temperatures help keep them at bay, making long days outside far more comfortable.
Fat Fish Month
September isn’t just about bears—it’s also when the fish are at their absolute best.
By this point in the season, trout and char have spent months feeding on salmon eggs and flesh, packing on weight just like the bears. September fishing is often some of the best of the year, with aggressive, well-fed fish making their final push before winter. It’s truly “fat fish month,” and anglers feel the difference immediately.
Easier Bear Viewing, Fewer Crowds
As salmon begin to die off later in the season, bears often shift back toward river mouths and easily accessed feeding areas. That can mean less hiking compared to earlier months, while still offering exceptional bear viewing opportunities.
September also brings fewer visitors overall. The park feels quieter and more intimate, allowing for slower moments, longer observations, and a deeper connection to the place—without the peak-summer bustle.
