The first week in October brings with it many things. The official kickoff of Halloween month (even though we’ve been celebrating since July), fall weather really hitting, and of course- Fat Bear Week. The annual tradition kicked off October 4th, with the official opening of this year’s bracket.
“The Katmai National Park & Preserve in Alaska hosts #FatBearWeek, an annual tournament celebrating the success of the bears winter prep at the park’s Brooks River,” the National Parks Service says. “From October 4th-10th, you can decide who will wear the crown. (No actual crown will be placed on the bear. Volunteers to place crowns were hard to come by.) By the end of the week, only one well-fed ursine will receive the title of the fattest bear. For each pairing of bears, you’ll be given the opportunity to vote on the bear of your choosing.”
So, watch the livecam now here, and start your voting, which runs 8am-5pm daily. Cast your Fat Bear Week votes here.