Fat Bear Week Begins: First Round Voting Underway

Fat Bear Week voting has officially begun, with the first matchups now complete and more exciting contests on the horizon. Let's dive into the results from the initial battles and preview what's coming next in this beloved annual competition.

Day One Results: Cubs and Mothers Face Off

The first day of voting featured two compelling matchups that pitted youth against youth and mother against mother.

Matchup 1: 428 vs. 806 Spring Cub

The tournament's youngest competitors squared off in our opening contest. Bear 428, a three-and-a-half-year-old female and offspring of fellow competitor Grazer, faced this year's Fat Bear Week junior champion, 806 Spring Cub (also known as 806 Junior).

806 Junior was a first-timer around the river this summer. Many mother bears avoid bringing very young cubs to the river due to potential dangers, but 806 took the risk with her cub. This gamble paid off handsomely as 806 Junior grew rapidly throughout the season.

When the votes were tallied, 806 Junior emerged victorious and will advance to the next round of competition.

Matchup 2: 402 vs. 901

The second contest featured two mother bears with different levels of experience.

Bear 901 entered the competition as a first-time mother to three cubs, though she sadly lost one in September. Despite this challenge, she frequently visited Brooks Falls throughout summer to bring food back to her remaining cubs. Even while caring for her young ones, 901 managed to put on impressive weight.

Her opponent, 402, brought considerably more experience to the matchup. As a seasoned mother of at least eight litters, 402 has developed into a skilled fisher over the years. This expertise has helped her provide for numerous offspring, including her current adorable yearling nicknamed Hedgehog.

In a somewhat surprising result, the first-time mother 901 defeated the veteran 402 and will advance in the tournament.

Upcoming Matchups: More First Round Action

The excitement continues on October 5th with the final two matchups of the first round:

Matchup 3: Walker vs. Grazer

Walker will face off against Grazer in what promises to be an exciting contest between two popular bears.

Matchup 4: Bucky vs. Elektra

The first round concludes with Bucky taking on Elektra for the right to advance to the next stage of the competition.

Join the Fat Bear Fun

Fat Bear Week continues with daily voting until we crown this year's champion. The competition celebrates the impressive weight gain of these magnificent creatures as they prepare for winter hibernation.

Stay tuned for more updates as the competition progresses and we move closer to determining which bear has achieved the most impressive transformation this season.