Otis the Brown Bear Emerges from Hibernation: A Tale of Resilience and Hope

Otis the Bear's Return

Otis the bear has just emerged from hibernation following widespread concerns about his well-being, and bear lovers everywhere are breathing a sigh of relief. Otis is a beloved brown bear who lives in Katmai National Park in Alaska. Because he's in his late twenties, which is an advanced age for a wild bear, many were fearing that he wouldn't make it out of hibernation this year.

Otis Spotted at Brooks Falls

But on July 26, months after he normally would have been expected, Otis was spotted on explore.org's live Bear cams at Brooks Falls, a location that is known as Otis's office. He spends a lot of time in this area, usually in the river waiting to catch fish.

Importance of Eating for Otis

All eyes are on his fishing skills right now as Otis will need to eat up to prepare for Fat Bear Week, which will take place later this year. Fat Bear Week is an annual tradition that celebrates the Katmai Bears' success at eating 12 months worth of food in 6 months.

The Significance of Fat Bear Week

After bears come out of hibernation, they need to consume enough food to make it through the next winter, which they will again spend within their dens not eating or drinking. Throughout their hibernation process, bears lose up to a third of their total body weight, so it's very important that they've built up ample fat stores in order to survive.

Otis at Fat Bear Week

Otis is a 4-time Fat Bear Week champion. And this year, he'll be looking to dethrone last year's winner, Bear Force 1, for his 5th win. Park rangers create a tournament-style bracket that pits various bears against each other, and voters can watch the bears' eating progress on the live cams and decide who moves on to the next round, and ultimately, which bear is the champion.

Identifying Otis

It can be difficult to pick Otis out of a crowd of bears, but he's most easily identified by his floppy right ear.

Stay tuned for more updates on Otis and don't forget to catch the brown bear live streams on explore.org!