Home
While I followed Fat Bear Week for many years, I really fell in love with the Katmai bears on a trip to Brooks Falls in July 2024. Seeing the bears fish, play, fight, and take care of each other over 48 hours with my own eyes was one of the best outdoor experiences of my life.
Brooks River is one of many rivers in Katmai. The Brooks is part of the larger Naknek Watershed, meaning that as water flows in the Brooks River, it will eventually make its way to Bristol Bay via the Naknek River. Brooks River bears return to the river in mid-late June and stay around the area until late October when the salmon run is over and it’s almost time to hibernate.
For salmon, this is a helpful resting spot to reserve energy before their push upriver. For the bears however, there is opportunity for feasting on the thousands of fish that come through the Brooks each year. Every year, explore.org hosts Fat Bear Week, where anyone can vote online about which bear has packed on the most pounds, as well as hosting webcams to watch the bears throughout the summer season!
Eating lots of rich, fatty salmon and putting on weight is essentially for these bears to make through hibernation and take care of their young.
Watch the bear cams on this page, click around to get some info, or check out previous Fat Bear champs.
