Tue Oct 01 09:08:48 UTC 2024: ## Fat Bear Week Bracket Reveal Postponed After Bear-on-Bear Fatality
**KATMAI NATIONAL PARK, ALASKA** – The highly anticipated reveal of the Fat Bear Week bracket has been postponed after a shocking incident involving two bears vying for salmon in the Brooks River.
Viewers watching the live stream from Katmai National Park witnessed a brutal fight between bears 469 (male) and 402 (female) on Monday morning. The altercation, lasting several minutes, ended tragically with bear 469 killing 402 and consuming her body.
This grim spectacle, while considered natural behavior among bears competing for food, has deeply impacted the Fat Bear Week organizers and fans. Bear 402 was a popular contestant scheduled to be included in the 2024 bracket, leading to the postponement of the reveal.
The National Park Service announced that the bracket will be released today, October 1st, at 4pm PT/7pm ET.
Fat Bear Week, a beloved annual event attracting millions worldwide, celebrates the healthy ecosystem of Katmai National Park, where over 2,000 brown bears compete for the most salmon. The competition culminates in viewers voting for the “fattest bear” from October 2nd to 8th, with the champion crowned on October 8th.
Despite the tragedy, organizers emphasize that Fat Bear Week remains a celebration of the park’s thriving bear population, reminding viewers of the harsh realities of life for these magnificent animals.
First Piper 