Bear fans, get your brackets ready! Katmai National Park and Preserve in King Salmon, Alaska, has launched its annual Fat Bear Junior competition , giving wildlife enthusiasts a chance to cheer for the park’s younger brown bears.

From playful cubs to two-year-old giants, bears across the park are matched in a tournament-style contest, with fans from around the world voting for their favorites.

“Bears are matched together in a tournament-style competition. And people from all over the world vote for their favorite bear,” explained Matt Johnson from Katmai National Park.

Although the park welcomes around 50,000 visitors each year, many tune in online to watch bears gather at Brooks Falls, fish for salmon, and display unique personalities.

“Each one has a different personality, a differ

See Full Page