The annual Fat Bear Week competition has unveiled its lineup of contenders, featuring 11 adult brown bears from Alaska's Katmai National Park and Preserve. The contest, scheduled to run from September 22 to September 29, highlights the bears' efforts to gain significant weight before their winter hibernation. This year's participants include returning champions and new hopefuls vying for the title.

The bears, some of the largest brown bears on Earth, are known to exceed 1,200 pounds by autumn. Their substantial weight gain is primarily attributed to the abundance of sockeye salmon in the Brooks River, which they consume from late June through October. This allows them to accumulate the necessary fat reserves to survive hibernation without food or water.

Among the notable contenders is 32 Chunk, a large male with a distinctive broken jaw that affects his ability to eat but has not prevented him from becoming one of the river's largest bears. He faces competition from 128 Grazer, a previous champion and protective mother, who won the contest in 2023 and became the first mother bear to claim the title in 2024.

Bear 26, a newcomer, is noted for her return with new cubs after a previous litter was lost. She is believed to be the daughter of 435 Holly, a former Fat Bear Week champion. Bear 99, a young male with a milk-chocolate coat, has grown large enough to challenge established bears for prime fishing spots.

A large adult female bear with grizzled-brown fur and blond ears. Other competitors include Bear 503, who was adopted by Holly and is now a substantial male known for his strategic fishing. The familiar male, 602, nicknamed 'floatato' for his habit of lounging in the water, and Bear 609, a nearly five-year-old female and former Fat Bear Junior champion, are also in contention.

A large adult male bear with uniformly grizzled-brown fur. Bear 856, one of the oldest contenders, has adapted his strategy to compete against younger rivals by avoiding losing fights and challenging only when advantageous. The female field also includes 901, a consistently well-fed bear, and sisters 909 and 910, both daughters of former champion 409 Beadnose, known for their salmon-catching skills.

Chunk, a large adult male bear with a broken jaw. Fat Bear Week originated as Fat Bear Tuesday in 2014 and expanded to a weeklong event the following year. Fans can follow the bears via live cameras and cast their votes daily between noon and 9 p.m. Eastern Time. The online competition celebrates the bears' survival success and the natural processes that prepare them for winter.

A medium-sized, fat adult female bear with blond-rimmed ears. A large and tall adult male bear with grizzled-brown fur. A nearly five-year-old female bear with uniformly brown body fur. Grazer, a large adult female bear with blond ears.