The autumnal equinox was today, and summer is officially over. That means it's time for Fat Bear Week!
Brown bears in Alaska emerge from hibernation and spend all summer eating delectable salmon and anything else they can find. Their goal is to pack on plenty of pounds to last them through the next winter's hibernation. The bears of Brooks River in Katmai National Park in Alaska are once again in competition with each other during Fat Bear Week. Wild Bears cannot be weighed, so bear fans can help identify who put on the most weight by voting for who you think is the fattest bear. Yes, some bears that have been around for a while have an advantage of a built-in fan base. The real reason for the contest is to raise awareness of these wonderful wild creatures. We've heard that the salmon run was particularly good this year, so the bears should be plenty fat!
Read the biography of each of the twelve bears in this year's tournament, and be ready to vote in the first round on Tuesday, 9AM-6PM Pacific time (noon-9PM Eastern). There will be a new head-to-head matchup each day through September 30th.
Meanwhile, you can watch the bears hunt salmon at Brooks Falls on the live webcam. -via Metafilter