It's Fat Bear Week: Look At Cute Bears And Cast Your Vote

KING SALMON, AK — It’s Fat Bear Week, when more pounds equals more votes, adoration, and success. When winter comes, it’s survival of the fittest – and in this case, the fittest bears are the chubbiest!

According to Explore.org, bears in Katmai National Park eat like crazy in the fall in order to bulk up and survive their winter hibernation. Extra weight is also the key to a bear’s reproductive success — and, perhaps most relevantly for voters in this week’s contest, it gives them tons of cute points.

Why We Root For Bears In Their Weight Gain Journey

Explore.org explains that since bears do not eat or drink at all during hibernation, they can lose as much as one-third of their body weight. To prepare, they store up extra fat by eating as much salmon as possible at Katmai National Park’s Brooks River — which fortunately has “the largest, healthiest runs of sockeye salmon left on the planet” — before making their way to their dens.

The Stakes Are So High! Which Bear Should I Vote For?

The website gives a number of suggestions to help you make an informed decision, including the fact that younger bears grow much more quickly than older bears. However, the competition is subjective. If you feel that you are in over your head as you weigh your options, you can simply cast your vote for the bear that you determine to be the largest and fattest at the moment.

I Want To See Some Bears!

You’re in luck. Explore.org provides live streams of brown bears as they sit in the water, ponder their mission, hunt for and eat fish, and generally look adorable — in real time.

I Think I’m Ready For My Assignment. How Do I Vote?

Right here, right now.

May the fattest bear be victorious!