Feeding Frenzy

For bears, gaining body fat is the key to surviving the winter. Each bear needs to increase its body weight by 30 percent before winter arrives. That’s because when temperatures drop, food becomes harder to find. 

Brown bears survive by hibernating in their dens. During this time, bears do not eat, drink, or leave their den. When they emerge in the spring, they’ve lost most of the weight and are thin and extremely hungry.

Gaining body fat is the key to winter survival for bears. Each bear needs to increase its body weight by 30 percent before winter arrives. Temperatures drop in winter. Food becomes harder to find.

Brown bears hibernate in their dens to survive. Bears do not eat or drink while they hibernate. They also do not leave their den. They come out of hibernation in the spring. They have lost most of the weight by that time. The bears are thin and extremely hungry.

Katmai’s bears have become famous thanks to an event called Fat Bear Week. During this annual “competition,” park rangers identify and photograph commonly spotted bears. They estimate how much weight the bears gain. “The bears are not tagged or handled in any way,” says Fitz.

Katmai’s bears have become famous. There is an event called Fat Bear Week. Fat Bear Week is an annual “competition.” Park rangers identify bears that are commonly seen in the park. They photograph them. They estimate how much weight the bears gain. “The bears are not tagged or handled in any way,” says Fitz.

Fans track the weight gain of the bears through social media posts. In October, people vote for the bear they think “won” the fall feasting period. 

“I thought it would be fun if we gave the public the opportunity to compare the changes and decide who they think is the fattest bear,” says Fitz. Fat Bear Week continues to celebrate Katmai’s brown bears’ important preparation to survive the winter. 

Fans track the weight gain of the bears through social media posts. People vote in October for the bear they think “won” the fall feasting period.

“I thought it would be fun if we gave the public the opportunity to compare the changes. They could decide who they think is the fattest bear,” says Fitz. Fat Bear Week continues to celebrate Katmai’s brown bears and their important preparation to survive the winter.

Bears consume as much food as possible before winter starts. Here are some of their top foods. 

• fish (salmon)
• fruits and berries
• nuts

Bears consume as much food as possible before winter starts. Here are some of their top foods. 

• fish (salmon)
• fruits and berries
• nuts

Use the table to answer the subtraction questions below.

Use the table to answer the subtraction questions below.