Fat Bear Week 2025 Voting Guide: Meet the Fattest Finalists and Learn How to Cast Your Vote

Brooks River brown bears have reached peak plumpness, and the 2025 Fat Bear Week voting bracket is officially live. Hosted by Katmai National Park & Preserve and Explore.org, the single-elimination showdown runs 23 – 30 September, with polls opening daily from 12 p.m. – 9 p.m. ET (9 a.m. – 6 p.m. PT) on Explore.org’s dedicated ballot page. Why Fat Bear Week matters Each summer, Alaska’s coastal brown bears gorge on sockeye salmon to build the fat reserves they need to survive up to six months of winter hibernation. The public-driven contest turns that survival strategy into an educational, wildly popular online event that last year drew more than one million votes worldwide. How to cast your vote 1. Go to Explore.org/fat-bear-week during the daily voting window. 2. Click the photo of the bear that “best exemplifies fatness” in each matchup; the losing photo grays out as confirmation. 3. Enter your email to validate the ballot; no account is required. 4. Repeat every day as the bracket narrows to the fattest of the fat. Key 2025 contenders to watch • 128 Grazer – 2023 champion and fiercely protective mother, back heavier than ever. • 32 Chunk – a scar-nosed salmon-devouring powerhouse who once ate 42 fish in 10 hours. • 856 – a 23-year-old giant still ruling prime fishing spots. • 609 – the 2022 Fat Bear Junior winner making her adult-bracket debut. • 26 – believed to be the cub of legendary 435 Holly and appearing for the first time. (Full contestant bios were released in this year’s bracket announcement). Important dates • 20 Sep: Fat Bear Junior voting (two-day youth tournament). • 22 Sep, 12 p.m. ET: Live “Meet the Bears” preview stream. • 23 Sep: Round of 16 opens. • 27 Sep: Final Four. • 30 Sep: Championship vote and winner reveal on Explore.org live cams. Tips for first-time voters • Watch the Brooks Falls live cam to see real-time fishing tactics before you decide. • Check each bear’s before-and-after photos; dramatic transformations often sway the bracket. • Share your picks with #FatBearWeek on social platforms to rally support. What happens after the crown The winning bear earns bragging rights, a commemorative graphic, and global fame, but the real victory is the spotlight on salmon ecology and Katmai’s pristine habitat. Rangers use the viral attention to educate viewers about conservation, climate impacts on fish runs, and responsible wildlife viewing. Bottom line Whether you’re rooting for lumbering legends like 32 Chunk or a rising star like 609, every click helps celebrate the resilience of Alaska’s brown bears. Cast your ballot daily, follow the bracket shocks, and see which supersized salmon slurper waddles away with the 2025 Fat Bear Week title.