In brief
Backpack triumphed in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week 2026, edging out competitor Bear 910 with 103,344 votes to 98,253 in a worldwide poll. The contest, now in its thirteenth year, celebrates bears’ weight‑gaining prep for hibernation and draws over 1.7 million votes each year. Backpack, named for his quirky habit of clinging to his mother Holly’s back, showcases the playful side of wildlife tourism. The event highlights the seasonal ecology of Katmai National Park and sparks lively debates over bear heft and strategy.
Backpack declared Alaska’s Fat Bear Week winner
In an August showdown that drew over 1.7 million votes worldwide, Backpack – a brown bear tamed by the relentless salmon runs of Brooks River – edged out competitor Bear 910 with 103,344 votes to 98,253 and claimed the championship of Katmai National Park’s annual Fat Bear Week.
The competition, now in its thirteenth year, pits bears against each other in a light‑hearted contest of weigh‑ins and public popularity, with spectators given the chance to vote on the heaviest packed bear. The National Parks Service, which “thank[s] the 16 bears who involuntarily participated,” highlighted the joy of watching the animals stack on extra fat in preparation for a winter that can stretch up to six months.
Backpack, whose mother Holly was the 2019 champion, earned his name from the time he used to climb onto her back in summer – a quirky habit that made him instantly endearing. Supporters jokingly christened him the “chonk with a badonk,” while others praised his “quiet toughness” that let him thrive amid the largest bears at Brooks River.
Despite the cheer, the contest also sparked debate: some voters argued that female rival Bear 910, who has raised her own cub and an adopted niece, was “a larger bear all around,” and not just a superior “booty.” Critics praised Bear 910’s effort, although the public vote ultimately favored Backpack.
Bears entering the competition weigh in the mid‑summer, reaching up to 408 kg for adult males and over 540 kg for the heaviest. They then gorge on salmon, berries and other foods until mid‑October, after which they enter dens and shed one‑third of their body weight during hibernation.
