Open Post: Hosted By Fat Bear Week 2020
It’s time to crown 2020’s Fat Bear Week Champion! But wait, it’s not what you think! This a contest for the actual beefiest brown bear (Ursus arctos). A giant “phew” from the LGBTQIA+ population – they don’t need a superspreader event (a la the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally) taking out the heaviest half of their husky, hairy hunks!
Fat Bear Week is an annual tournament hosted by the National Park Service. The contest celebrates brown bears packing on the pounds in prep for winter hibernation (in which they’ll lose one-third of their body weight). Every summer the chubsters gorge themselves on salmon from Brooks River at Katmai National Park in Alaska, and people vote for their favorite fattie. Last year’s champion, 435 Holly (the luscious lady pictured above) is back to defend her 2019 title.
Here’s another beauty shot of the champion:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFiErv7jIw_/
Then there’s the King himself: 480 Otis, an elder grizzled (not grizzly!) blonde daddy with a trademark floppy right ear. Otis’ fishing skills would put all of our grandpas to shame; this expert angler is a master of patience and efficiency. As he enters his golden years (mid-twenties), Otis isn’t getting as rotund as he used to, but he shouldn’t be discounted. Daddy won the title in 2016 and 2017:
The ten other bears competing for the title include Chunk, Grazer, Walker, and Holly’s own spring cub who’s recovering from a porcupine quill injury to the paw (oo, that puts this youngster at a distinct disadvantage!).
You can watch a live feed of the curvy carnivores stuffing their faces with delicious salmon 24/7:
The polls are open to the voting public from tomorrow until next Tuesday. So when people tell you to VOTE this fall, this is what they’re talking about.
Pic: Instagram