It was the Fat Bear Week finale, and only one bear could be crowned the winner. The fight was between adult female 910 and 89 Backpack, children of former Fat Bear Week winners 409 Beadnose and Holly. Was this face-off a feat of nepotism? The bears did not comment on the application process.

In a neck-and-neck battle to the finish, Backpack emerged as the winner with 103,344 votes. 910 was a little over 5,000 votes behind with 98,253 votes. The win came as a surprise to many, even though Backpack gathered many votes year after year. Backpack barely made it through his own semifinals, with a lead of only 4,100 votes. 910, however, had a clear lead of 70,000 votes.

Backpack had no need to fight with the other bears. His silence and his strength is more than enough to establish his dominance at Brooks River, making him a fan favorite for his gentle soul. He has very few scars, as he never has the need to pick a fight. He was also very hard to photograph, keeping to himself more often than not. It was this quiet presence that made bear enthusiasts fall in love, perhaps the thing that propelled him to the winner’s seat. 

The taste of victory was not new to Backpack. It was one-year-old Backpack’s insistence on clinging to his mother’s back during river swims that inspired his name. Nearly a year later, however, Backpack suffered a mysterious leg injury, leaving the world to wonder whether or not he would survive to future seasons. With love and care from his mother, Backpack healed, gaining the strength to go forth into the world, becoming a regular character at Brooks Falls. His reputation has granted him access to all of the best fishing spots, and he has taken many bears under his wing. 

Despite the addition of bear families in the running for the fattest spot, none of them made it to the final match. No amount of baby bear cubs were enough to last in this competition. For Backpack, it was slow and steady that he won this race.

When asked about what he planned on doing with his newfound fame, Backpack had no comment, in English of course. It is safe to say that he will return to his normal routine, consuming more fish to prepare for next year.