Backpack

Backpack, a 20-year-old brown bear residing in Alaska's Katmai National Park and Preserve, has been crowned the champion of the annual Fat Bear Week competition. This event celebrates the resilience and health of the park's brown bear population, which numbers around 2,200. Backpack, known for his solitary nature and tendency to spend extended periods resting on a rock along the Brooks River, emerged victorious after a close public vote, narrowly defeating a competitor nicknamed Dancing Queen. The contest, now in its 12th year, highlights the bears' success in fattening up before the winter hibernation. Backpack's win signifies his status as one of the heftiest bears in the preserve, demonstrating his successful foraging and preparation for the lean months ahead. His victory underscores the importance of the park's ecosystem in supporting these large animals.