For some people, October is October. On October 5, Katmai National Park and Preserve in southern Alaska kicked off Fat Bear Week, when fans compare before and after photos of bears to vote for the one they think has gained the most weight before they bed down for the long freezing winter. Bear 747, also known as "Bear Force One", took the first-place spot with 68,105 votes. It weighed around 1,400 pounds.
Fat Bear Week started in 2014. At first, it was just Fat Bear Tuesday. Mike Fitz, a former park keeper at Katmai, noticed that live webcams showing the bears generated a lot of online comments, so he let people vote for their favorite fat bear on the Internet. The one-day event attracted 1,700 votes. In 2015, it was extended to a week. Last year, nearly 800,000 people got involved, turning it into a global campaign.
The contest serves two main purposes. First, some of America's national parks are in remote and undeveloped areas, which are difficult or costly to reach. Fat Bear Week brings Alaska's wilderness to fans' computer screens." It's not limited to the fortunate few who can go to the river anymore." Fitz said.
Second, Fat Bear Week brings attention to the bears and the ecosystems they live in. The 2,200 bears of Katmai are strong for feeding on some of the healthiest salmon (三文鱼) in the world，said Sara Wolman, a former park keeper. Salmon in the Pacific Northwest are suffering from overfishing, dam construction and warming rivers due to climate change. Luckily, Brooks River, which Katmai's bears like to fish in, has been free from these threats so far.
Fat Bear Week has spread like viruses. Fans and creators say it's because it shows a conservation success story. For one week, people don't have to focus on climate change or habitat loss. "Maybe things aren't super great all the time in the world," said Felicia Jimenez, who is a current Katmai keeper. "But there are some really fat bears in Alaska."
