A Deadly Attack Shakes Up the Bracket Reveal for 2024’s Fat Bear Week Contest
A deadly bear-on-bear attack at Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve on Monday delayed the unveiling of the bracket for this year’s Fat Bear Week contest. The attack, which involved Bear No. 469 killing Bear No. 402, was unusual and highlighted the harsh laws of nature in the southern Alaskan wilderness.
The public voting for the contest is scheduled to start at noon ET on Wednesday, October 2, and will continue through October 8. The contest, observing its 10th anniversary, features a single-elimination format where bears compete in head-to-head matchups based on online votes. The bear with the most votes advances to the next round.
The National Park Service and Explore.org have posted an edited version of the footage along with commentary on YouTube, noting that the attack was difficult to watch and a reminder of the power and strength of these animals. The Brooks River corridor has been closed to all anglers except subsistence users below Brooks Falls until October 31, due to problematic human-bear interaction issues.
