Meet ‘747’, the Two-Time Champion of Fat Bear Week

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​Each summer Alaska’s bears gather at the Brooks River in the Katmai National Park to feast on salmon and prepare for the long winter ahead. These bears can double their weight in just a few months, making them almost unrecognizable. One bear, in particular, has won the hearts of admirers around the world with his massive size and impressive fishing skills: 747. 747, also known as “Bear Force One”, is a fan favorite, and you can witness just how big he can get in this video!

What Type of Bear is 747?

747 — the enormous bear featured in the video above — is an Alaskan brown bear who lives in Katmai National Park. Technically, all brown bears in Alaska are grizzly bears. However, those living near the coast like 747 tend to grow much larger than inland bears due to an abundance of salmon. To avoid confusion, inland bears are typically referred to as “grizzly bears” while coastal bears are known as “brown bears”.

Alaska’s brown bears can rival polar bears in terms of size. Males can grow 8 feet tall and can weigh up to 1,200 pounds. Some exceptionally large bears can even weigh over 1,850 pounds and stand over 9 feet tall!

When scientists first identified 747 in 2005, he was a subadult between 2.5 and 5.5 years old. Now over 20 years old, 747 is one of the largest bears ever seen at the Brooks River. His stocky build and massive size make him easy to recognize, but he has a few other distinguishing features as well, such as his reddish shoulders and medium-brown fur coat. He sometimes has a bald spot on his forehead during the early summer shedding season and grows a rich dark brown coat for the winter. 747 also has distinctively round, peg-like ears and a short, blocky muzzle.

The Two-Time Fat Bear Heavy-Weight Champion

Fat Bear Week is an online competition hosted by the Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska. Each year, people all over the globe can see the bears at Brooks River online as they feast on salmon throughout the summer. This is vital for the bears’ survival during their six-month hibernation, as they don’t eat during that time and rely solely on their fat reserves. Viewers then vote for the bear they believe best epitomizes the “Fat Bear” champion.

Of the more than 2,200 bears living in Katmai National Park, only around 12 compete in Fat Bear Week. Before their months-long salmon feast, male bears typically weigh 700 to 900 pounds. But by the end of the season, they can easily exceed 1,000 pounds. Weighing in at an estimated 1,400 pounds, 747 is the largest bear to have ever participated in Fat Bear Week. He is also a two-time champion of the competition, having won in both 2020 and 2022.

But it’s not just his impressive size that makes 747 a fan favorite — people also love Bear Force One for his intelligence and personality. Alaskan brown bears like 747 are incredibly smart and each has their own individually unique behaviors. 747, in particular, is popular for his expert fishing skills and holds a dominant place at the Brooks River. Other brown bears in Alaska have been observed rubbing lovage plants on their bodies to ward off insects. Some even eat volcanic ash to treat intestinal parasites.