Holly

89 Backpack, a 20-year-old brown bear residing in Alaska's Katmai National Park, has been crowned the winner of the annual Fat Bear Week competition for 2023. This event celebrates the success of bears in accumulating fat reserves before their winter hibernation. Backpack, known for his solitary nature and long periods of quiet observation on a rock by the Brooks River, narrowly defeated another large bear, identified as 910 (formerly nicknamed Dancing Queen), in the final round. The competition, which involves public voting, highlighted a "battle of size, skill, snack acquisition, and strategic loafing." Backpack's victory underscores the importance of successful foraging and fat storage for the survival and health of brown bears in the region. The event serves as an engaging way to educate the public about bear ecology and conservation efforts in Katmai National Park.