Katmai National Park is home to some of Earth’s largest brown bears. Adult male bears average 700 – 900 pounds (317 – 408 kg) in mid-summer. By late summer and fall, the largest males often weigh more than 1,200 pounds (544 kg). Adult female bears average smaller than adult males by one-third to one-half, largely due to the energetic costs of raising cubs.

Brown bears are omnivores who eat dozens of different plant and animal foods in Katmai. For the Fat Bear Week bears, however, salmon are especially important. At Brooks River, bears gather to fish for sockeye salmon between late June and late October. Bears work hard to take advantage of this bounty and gain enough fat to survive winter hibernation.

While every brown bear seeks to satisfy the same basic needs, they are also adaptable, intelligent, and individualistic. Success and survival for a bear depends on its unique set of behaviors, knowledge, and skills.

 

 

26

 

Identification

This medium-sized adult female has round ears and grizzled brown fur on her neck and back. Her claws are dark in color but paler toward their tips.

Biography

The journey into motherhood presents a steep learning curve for young females. Bear 26 knows this well. When she returned to Brooks River with her first litter in 2023, the family visited the area near Brooks Falls where fishing can be highly rewarding as well as risky. One of her cubs was killed by a bear downstream of the falls late that July. When she returned to the river in September 2023, she had lost the other cub to unknown causes.
 
An older and perhaps wiser bear 26 arrived at Brooks River this July with a new litter. The experiences with her first litter appear to have given her valuable lessons that she has used to keep her current litter safe. She’s largely avoided the falls area. She may not have felt the need to fish there either. Her adjustment in behavior was made easier by this year’s large run of salmon.
 
Her cubs grew quickly and remained rambunctious throughout the summer. The family is ready to hibernate together and emerge from the den well prepared to face the uncertainties of another summer. The responsibilities of raising cubs are demanding. Bear 26 utilized her growing maturity and experience to raise and protect her family. She is believed to be the daughter of legendary Brooks River bear and former Fat Bear Week winner 435 Holly. This is her first Fat Bear Week appearance.

 

32 Chunk

 

Identification

Chunk is a large adult male with narrowly-set eyes, dark brown fur, and a prominent brow ridge. He has a distinctive scar across his muzzle and a broken, yet healing jaw.

Biography

Chunk has experienced the benefits that come with large body size and dominance in brown bears. As a very large, perhaps 1,200-pound-plus bear, Chunk uses his size and confidence to his advantage. Bears that are unwary or unlucky often find themselves under threat when he is nearby, yet even bears as large as Chunk face challenge and hardship.
 
Chunk returned to Brooks River in June 2025 with a freshly broken jaw. The timing of the injury during the brown bear mating season and the nature of it strongly suggest that Chunk was injured in a fight with another bear. 
 
Many questions swirled about Chunk’s fate after he broke his jaw. Bears in Katmai National Park do not receive veterinary care, and the fracture hobbled his ability to maintain his dominance and catch newly arrived salmon. Despite that, Chunk proved immediately adaptable. He adjusted his behavior to avoid most direct confrontations with other large male bears. He quickly learned to eat salmon without the full use of his mandible. Additionally, his large body size still gave him easy access to many productive fishing spots. He remains one of the largest bears at Brooks River.
 
Chunk used his determination and adaptability to persevere through injury. He will need that ability indefinitely. His broken jaw is a permanent disability that will never return to normal. Resilience in the wake of pain and conflict is written on Chunk’s face.

 

 

99

 

Identification

This young adult male has milk chocolate colored fur in late summer. His ears are oval-shaped and his muzzle arcs slightly up toward the tip of his nose. He also carries the faint remnant of a natal color in the fur on the sides of his neck.

Biography

Bear 99 received his identification number as a 3.5-year-old bear in 2019, yet his history at the river extends farther back in time. He and his siblings, 912 and 913, were first introduced to Brooks River by their mother, bear 39, in 2016. He learned as a cub and subadult bear that Brooks Falls is a lucrative fishing area, but he often had to wait on the fringes because he was not yet large enough to maintain consistent access to the best fishing spots. As bears mature, however, they seek opportunity where it was unavailable previously.
 
His size now allows him to compete with large bears for fishing spots at Brooks Falls. His fishing skills also give him the energy to fuel his growth further. While 99 is not yet large enough to rank within the very top tier of adult male bears in the Brooks River hierarchy, he is close to achieving the size needed to face the highest levels of competition. If he is successful in that regard, he may soon discover even easier access to the river’s most productive fishing spots.
 
Bear 99 has distinguished himself as a bear with potential. He appears ready to use his increasing size, strength, and maturity to seek out and benefit from opportunity. This is his first Fat Bear Week appearance.

 

128 Grazer

 

Identification

Grazer is a large adult female with a long straight muzzle and conspicuously blond ears. She has grizzled, light brown fur in late summer and fall.

Biography

Grazer was introduced to Brooks River as a young cub in 2005. Twenty years later, she is a highly defensive mother bear who is raising her third litter. Her fearsome nature is respected by other bears who often choose to give her space instead of risking a confrontation. This elevates Grazer’s rank in the bear hierarchy above almost all bears except for the largest males.
 
Grazer is a bear willing to take risks, such as bringing young cubs to Brooks Falls, but she also adapts well to changing circumstances. This summer she and her yearling used Brooks Falls infrequently to capitalize on easy fishing elsewhere on the river. There’s almost no place on Brooks River where Grazer cannot fish successfully, so she was primed and ready to feast on this year’s abundant salmon run.
 
Grazer’s continued success showcases her adaptability and survival skills—qualities that she’s teaching her yearling cub, who is also the 2025 Fat Bear Junior champion. Grazer was the 2023 Fat Bear Week champion and became the first mother bear ever to win the title in 2024.

 

503

 

Identification

This large and tall adult male has grizzled-brown body fur. His ears are light brown and crescent or apostrophe-shaped when viewed from the front or back.

Biography

As a yearling cub, 503 faced uncertainty when he and his mother separated. He soon found a new family when he was adopted by 435 Holly. As a subadult bear, 503 remained social and sought playmates among young bears and sometimes larger adults. Those events were several years ago, however, and 503 is no longer a small bear. He is at an age when male bears reach the peak of their size and strength, become less social, and sometimes more aggressive.
 
While 503 is a large-bodied adult with great strength, he possesses an uncanny ability to get along with other bears, perhaps more than any other adult male who currently uses Brooks River. He is often able to access productive fishing spots without direct confrontation. He can approach many bears, including some dominant adult males, and greet them with a gentle touch of muzzles. Conflict is still part of his life, though. He will displace other bears from fishing spots when necessary. Bear 164 has also tested 503 for dominance more than once this summer. Their rivalry does not appear settled.
 
Bears, especially adult males, are often stereotyped as fearsome loners who achieve dominance through combat. Although some truth underlies the stereotype, 503’s uncommon amiability proves that navigating to the top rungs of the bear hierarchy requires strength but not always brute force.

 

602

 

Identification

This large adult male has uniformly grizzled-brown fur. His ears are wide-set and the fur on the middle of his forehead is often neatly parted. Behaviorally, he can be identified by a peculiar stomping dance that he displays in moments when his excitement level appears to be high.

Biography

Most bears identified at Brooks River use the river every year. Most of them also use the river in early and late summer when salmon are easiest to catch. In contrast, 602 has used Brooks River more often in late summer despite being observed and knowing that salmon are available there in June and July. Bears are nevertheless flexible in their behaviors, which offers a possible explanation for 602’s recent change of habit.
 
This summer, 602 became one of the most frequently seen bears at the river. He arrived on July 7 and fished at the river, as documented by webcam viewers observations, for all but about ten days through September 19. His early summer arrival coincided with the first large, sustained waves of incoming sockeye salmon. Abundant food gave him good reason to stay in place, but he’s seen big runs of salmon at Brooks River before. Maybe he couldn’t turn away from the opportunity to feast and lounge in the river.
 
With his large size and high level of dominance, 602 was able to fish at his leisure. He sometimes napped in the river rather than retreating to the seclusion of the forest. He also seemed to enjoy being surrounded by fish. On warm days, his resting phases were punctuated by lounging behaviors that inspired people to call him a “floatato,” and reminded others of Homer Simpson relaxing in a pool. Embracing change offered 602 the chance to find greater opportunity, which he carries in body fat. This is his first Fat Bear Week appearance.

 

609

 

Identification

This nearly five-year-old female bear has uniformly brown body fur with grizzled fur on her face, ears, and neck. She has large round ears, a narrow muzzle, and a prominent and conical shoulder hump.

Biography

Bear 609’s transition to independence began later than it did with most bears since she remained with her adoptive family, her aunt 910 and 910’s cub, throughout her fourth summer of life in 2024. Last spring, though, she encountered life on her own when 910 separated from her litter.
 
Subadult bears such as 609 must establish a home range and work through the difficulties of life at the bottom of the bear hierarchy. Through 609’s experiences with her biological mother and her aunt, she was afforded extra time and opportunities to practice her fishing and social skills. After family breakup, those skills were tested as she began her journey toward independence. By all observable metrics, she has succeeded.
 
She’s large for her age, knows where and when to find salmon, and is adept at fishing. Bear 609 still has much to learn, but when challenged by life without a parent for the first time, she used her experience and skills to strike her own path forward. She was the 2022 Fat Bear Junior champion.

 

856

 

Identification

This large adult male has uniformly brown body fur and light-brown ears. When 856 stands on all four legs, he is likely more than 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall at the shoulder. When fishing, he frequently licks his lips, which is a behavioral characteristic expressed by few bears at Brooks River.

Biography

Bear 856 was classified as a young adult in 2006. By his tenth or eleventh year of life, he became one of the biggest bears at the river with an assertive disposition equal to his size. Although he experienced some setbacks, 856 was the river’s most consistently dominant bear between 2011 and 2023. He used his size and fighting skills to intimidate other bears and gain access to food and potential mates. His status in the hierarchy was never assured though. It had to be maintained.

As 856 ages into his mid-20s, he faces increasingly difficult competition from younger and often more massive male bears. He understands that he can’t compete with the same vigor as in the past, so 856 changed his strategy. Instead of fighting battles that he was unlikely to win, he expressed more patience in his attempts to access productive fishing spots, and he usually yielded space to other large bears instead of standing his ground. 

A resilient bear such as 856 doesn’t give up easily, though. He is very good at picking his battles. He still challenges other bears when he feels the odds are in his favor. Adaptability and an intelligence for social conflict give 856 the ability to face the hardships often experienced by elder bears.

 

901

 

Identification

This is a medium-sized and fat adult female. Bear 901 has blond-rimmed, triangular ears. Her fur is golden brown in early summer and grizzled brown in late summer.

Biography

Bear 901 was first identified as a 2.5-year-old subadult in 2018. She has since become one of the most prominent and recognizable female bears at Brooks River. Her early adult life is marked by growth and loss. She readily achieves a level of fatness above that of many other bears. This prepared her body for giving birth and nursing cubs in early 2023. Unfortunately for 901, that litter did not survive.

Her prior experience with cubs, albeit brief, may position 901 for greater maternal success as soon as next year. Female bears with greater amounts of body fat are better positioned to endure the energetic demands of cub rearing. More experienced mothers are better equipped with the knowledge to keep their cubs safe. It is not uncommon for mother bears in Katmai to lose their entire litter given the risks faced by cubs. Yet past maternal experience is immensely valuable, which is why 901’s growing maturity and body size have her poised for success.

 

909

 

Identification

This large adult female has medium-brown fur, blond ears, and a prominent shoulder hump.

Biography

Born in 2016, 909 is part of a living, multi-generational legacy at Brooks River. Her mother Beadnose, the 2018 Fat Bear Week Champion, taught 909 and her sibling 910 the utility of Brooks Falls. Bear 909 catches salmon on the lip of the falls much in the same manner as her mother. Bear 909’s eldest surviving offspring, 609, also practices the technique.
 
Like many mother bears, 909 knows the pang of loss. One cub from her first litter did not survive. In May of this year, a bear resembling 909 was observed near Brooks River with a litter of three spring cubs. None accompanied her by June. The reason(s) for their disappearance is unknown.
 
Whether 909 experienced a sense of emotional loss after the disappearance of her cubs is unknown. We do know that she adapted quickly to single life and behaved a bit more boldly this summer than she might have if she were caring for young cubs. She would sometimes fish in the plunge pool below Brooks Falls where few female bears seek salmon. 

This year’s abundant salmon run has positioned her with ample fat reserves. She’s almost certainly heavier than she would have been had her most recent litter survived—a fact that may become a boon for a future litter. If she gives birth this winter, her cubs will find their mother ready and more than physically able to care for them. Bear 909’s experience and adaptability through loss may yet prove to give her greater success in the near future.

 

910

 

Identification

This large adult female has grizzled-brown fur. While fishing the lip of the falls, 910 occasionally throws her head upward, a behavioral tic that may be tied to the anticipation of catching salmon.

Biography

Like her sister, 909, bear 910 is part of a fishing and cultural legacy at Brooks River. Her mother, 409 Beadnose, introduced 910 to Brooks Falls where she has become a skilled angler.

Bear 910 raised one litter of two cubs, which included her adopted niece, 609, into spring 2025. After separating from them, 910 began a new chapter in her story. She had not experienced singles life since 2021. She was able to eat a lot of salmon this year, which is carried now in her plentiful body fat. We don’t know if she enjoyed this summer’s extra freedom, but at minimum 910’s behavior wasn’t constrained with the vigilance needed to protect a family.

Her life as a single female may be short-lived. A new litter of cubs could arrive for her as soon as this winter. A year of plenty has given 910 more opportunity to apply her skills and succeed as a once and future mother.