Fat Bear Week postponed after bear-on-bear murder

A gruesome murder has caused Alaska's annual Fat Bear Week to be postponed.

The battle for the biggest predator was delayed after a younger brown bear killed an older female while hunting for salmon on Monday morning.

The violent death of the matriarch known as 402 was captured in a livestream from Katmai National Park, which serves as a prime feeding ground for animals hoping to pack on as many pounds as possible before hibernation before winter.

Spectators watched as 402 and her attacker 469 fought fiercely until she was overwhelmed and sank into the waters of the Brooks River.

469, whose distinctive blonde mark on his shoulder earned him the nickname “Patches,” then began eating his fallen foe, later dragging her lifeless body out of camera view.

Katmai Ranger Sarah Bruce told The Washington Post she wasn't sure what exactly caused Monday's carnage, but said, “It's not uncommon for bears to eat each other if the opportunity arises.”

Both 402 and Patches had been known to the Katmai Rangers for more than 20 years, but only 402 had ever been in the running for the title of Fat Bear.

A description of 402 released during last year's competition called the giant matriarch a “killer angler” and “mother of at least eight litters, more than any other bear currently in Brooks River,” and noted that she also has entire litters of cubs lost.

“Her life illustrates the triumphs and tribulations of a long-lived mother bear,” the description reads.

Patches was given the unofficial nickname “Digger” by bear watchers in 2012 after he was spotted guarding the remains of an unidentified bear.

However, experts were unsure whether 469 was responsible for this animal's death.

Katmai National Park officials acknowledged the brutal truth of violence between bears in a statement Monday: “National parks like Katmai protect not only the wonders of nature, but also the harsh realities.” Every bear seen on the webcams, competes with others for survival.”

Fat Bear Week began in 2014 and invited the Internet to vote on which Brooks River bear had bulked up best that season.

According to the Post, around 1.4 million votes were cast during Fat Bear Week last year and more than 10 million people tuned in to Katmai's livestream.

In 2023, The Associated Press named the contest “Alaska's most-watched popularity contest.”

This year's group of 12 bears will be announced Tuesday evening.