Backpack wins Fat Bear Week title at Katmai National Park

Final vote count and winner

Backpack defeated a female bear known as 910 in the final round of the tournament. The winner received 103,344 votes while his opponent received 98,253 votes in that specific match. This victory marks the thirteenth year of the event run by the US National Parks Service.

Hibernation and family history

The winning bear will soon enter a hibernation period that can last up to six months. His mother Holly previously won the title in 2019 during the competition's fifth year. Supporters noted that Backpack earned his name from his habit of climbing onto his mother's back.

Public reaction and controversy

Some voters felt Bear 910 was larger overall despite losing the final head-to-head contest. Fans of the runner-up argued that she put in more work during the season. The US department of the interior posted congratulations to the new champion on social media.