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Fat Bear Week!

Fat Bear Junior starts today and goes through tomorrow. Bracket reveal for the real one is on the 22nd.

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John Oliver yesterday did an “and now this” segment of local news stations covering fat bear week, it was pretty great.
 
Chunk wins! I admit I was one of the people who wasn't sure he'd survive this year with the jaw injury, so glad to be proven wrong. This year has been a record high amount of salmon this year which has let the bears spread out a lot, hope that continues for previous years!

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From the site:
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.
Click to expand...
 
I was also worried about Chunk's jaw injury, but if there was ever a bear I'm glad to see come out on top, it's him.
 
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