In Anchorage, Alaska, Grazer won the Fat Bear Contest for the second time by defeating Chunk, the bear that killed her cub. The contest allowed fans to vote for the bear they believed best exemplified winter preparedness based on the fat they had accumulated over the summer feeding on sockeye salmon in Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve. The bears typically perch at the top of a falls in the river, grabbing leaping salmon as they attempt to spawn upstream. Grazer’s cub died after slipping over the waterfall and being killed by Chunk, leading to a dramatic confrontation between the two bears that was captured on live cameras. Another female bear, Bear 402, was killed by a male brown bear just before the brackets for the contest were expected to be released.
Grazer, with her blond ears and strong presence on Brooks River, is described as fearless and respected by other bears. Chunk, the largest bear on the river with a distinctive scar across his muzzle, used his size and aggression to secure prime fishing spots and feast on 42 salmon in 10 hours. The annual contest drew over 1.3 million votes last year and celebrates the resiliency of the 2,200 brown bears living in the preserve. Katmai has become a popular tourist destination, with viewing stands built for people to watch the brown bears fish for salmon. Brown bears typically weigh 600 to 900 pounds in mid-summer, but can weigh well over 1,000 pounds by hibernation after feasting on salmon.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com