Backpack Wins Fat Bear Week by Just Over 5,000 Votes
The winner has been crowned in Alaska. The annual Fat Bear Week contest culminated last week. Who came out on top in this year's voting? Read on for all of the details.
The Votes Are In - Who is the Victor in the Fat Bear Contest?
A few weeks ago, we brought you the story of the 2026 Fat Bear Week competition in Alaska. People from around the world were encouraged to check out the group of bears online and choose the one who they thought had done the best job fattening up in preparation for the long winter hibernation period.
The votes are in, and the title goes to Bear 89, affectionately known as Backpack. This massive brown bear defeated Bear 910 in the last round of the competition. Over 2.3 million people from all corners of the world participated in the fun contest. Backpack garnered over 103,000 votes, slipping by Bear 910 with over 98,000 votes.
Bears from a wide range of age and gender groups were pitted against each other throughout the week. Backpack easily cruised through the second round before he barely edged out a win in the semifinal round against Bear 164. From there, it got even tougher for Backpack. The burly bear eeked out a win in the final round by just over 5,000 votes.
About the 2026 Fat Bear Week Winner
Backpack is an adult male known for his chill personality. The dark brown bear comes from a lineage of Fat Bear Week champs. Backpack's mother, Holly, was also once crowned the winner. Backpack is 20 years old and weighs between 1,000 and 1,200 pounds.
It has been quite the comeback story for Backpack. The bear suffered a leg injury when he was a young cub. Staff at his home at the Katmai National Park and Preserve were worried that he would not survive the injury. But Backpack proved them wrong, going on to thrive at the park.
Backpack is different from most male bears his age. Rather than displaying aggression like most adult males, Backpack is generally docile. This massive bear leverages his strength to inch his way into the preferred feeding spots located in the park.
Park ranger Sarah Bruce said that Backpack has been a fan favorite for years. According to Bruce, "He's more of a stoic presence on the river. He doesn't really get into drama or cause any upset in the hierarchy. He holds his own very quietly."
The Fat Bear Week competition kicked off on September 22. Voters are encouraged to learn about the contestants and cast a ballot for the one that they think best demonstrates the survival skills needed to make it through the harsh winter in this part of the country. Contest officials instruct voters to choose which bear "best exemplifies fatness and success in brown bears."
Now in its 12th year, the week-long event is a joint partnership between the Katmai Conservancy, explore.org, and the Katmai National Park and Preserve. Webcams placed throughout the park allowed voters to observe the bears in their natural habitat as they made their voting decisions.
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