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News Articles: fat bear week

Cameron Clifford and his son Cal, with help from a friend, were taking care of more than 20 tiny octopus babies, along with one named Terrance.

These were the top animal stories on NPR in 2024, including a boy's pregnant octopus

This year, the animal kingdom was filled with triumph, loss and new discoveries. Here is a look at NPR's top animal stories of 2024.

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By:
  • Ayana Archie
In this photo provided by the National Park Service is Grazer, the winner of the 2023 Fat Bear Contest, at Katmai National Park in Alaska on Sept. 14, 2023.

In a rematch, mama bear Grazer defeats rival that killed her cub to win Fat Bear Week

The annual Fat Bear Week honors bears that have sufficiently bulked up in the months before entering hibernation.

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By:
  • Ayana Archie
Bear 402, seen here fishing with her yearlings in 2019, was killed in a fight with another bear this fall, delaying the start of Fat Bear Week at at Katmai National Park & Preserve in Alaska.

Fat Bear Week delayed after a large bear kills a rival bear

The scene was relayed by a live webcam of bears on Alaska's Brooks River. “This is very difficult to watch and comprehend,” said Naomi Boak of the nonprofit Katmai Conservancy.

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By:
  • Bill Chappell
32 Chunk, known for his girth and a scar on his muzzle, has become one of the most dominant males on the Brooks River. But is that enough for him to win Fat Bear Week?

Chonky and they know it: Voting starts in Fat Bear Week

Explaining the draw of gawking at massive bears, a park ranger says, "You can follow the bears for years and really get to know their lives and their personalities and their soap operas."

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By:
  • Bill Chappell
Two bear cousins became siblings this summer — and the new family fishes and lives together, led by 910.

From hangry to chonky: Fat Bear Week is coming

There can be only one — and they shall be rotund. The brown bears of Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska have been plumping themselves up, to prepare for a new hibernation season.

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By:
  • Bill Chappell
A livestream set up by Explore.org in the Katmai National Park for bear enthusiasts captured a missing hiker pleading for help on Sept. 5.

They logged on to watch the famous fat brown bears. They saved a hiker's life instead

Viewers of the Katmai National Park bear cameras caught more excitement than they may have hoped for last Tuesday when a hiker wandered into view, mouthing the words "help me."

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By:
  • Emily Olson
480 Otis, who is believed to be around 25 years old, emerged from hibernation looking very thin and facing health problems. But he deftly navigated both inter-bear relationships and a salmon-rich river to put on much-needed weight.

Fat Bear Week has a champion: All hail 480 Otis

Who is the fattest bear of all? For the fourth time, the answer is 480 Otis, a brown bear who didn't let his lack of two canine teeth stop him from packing on the pounds.

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By:
  • Bill Chappell
Easy to see how Bear 128 got into this year's Fat Bear Week 2021 competition.

Fat Bear Week Is Here. Take A Look At What To Expect And How You Can Celebrate

Only one of Alaska's bears can take home the title of Fat Bear Week 2021 champion.

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By:
  • Jonathan Franklin