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Bear named Chunk bests hefty competition to win Fat Bear Week

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Friday, October 3rd 2025 at 4:54 GMT by KTBS
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Chunk the Bear Clinches the “Fat Bear Week” Crown in a Battle of the Bears

For most of the year, black bears wander the forests of North America in a largely unnoticed, low‑profile existence. Only in late summer, when fat reserves are high and bears prepare for the winter hibernation, does their quiet life become a public spectacle. In the most recent “Fat Bear Week” (FBW), a weekly contest organized by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the American Black Bear Association (ABBA), one bear named Chunk outshone the competition, winning the coveted “Fat Bear of the Week” title and a trophy that will be kept in a local museum.

The story begins on the day the FBW livestream premiered, a Saturday in September. Viewers around the globe tuned in to a live feed from the White Bear Lake area of the Superior National Forest. They watched as Chunk, a large male black bear that frequents the area’s marshes and cattail beds, was filmed hauling a massive slab of wild rice, an almost 50‑pound block of “black” sweet potatoes, and a few chunks of salmon caught from a nearby stream. Chunk’s size—measured at 250 pounds—made him a natural contender. The DNR’s fat‑score system, based on a bear’s weight, body condition score (BCS) and visual cues such as pelt fullness and belly circumference, gave Chunk a perfect 10‑point score, edging out his nearest rivals.

Chunk’s rivals were a group of three other bears who were already well‑known in the local community: “Munch” the 190‑lb grizzly, “Clover” the 165‑lb female black bear, and “Grub” the 215‑lb male. While all four bears had a respectable body condition score, only Chunk could keep up with the sheer quantity of food he ate in a single day. A comment from a local ranger, interviewed in the article, summed up the competition: “In a way, it’s like a marathon. The bear that can pack the most into a short time gets the bragging rights.” Chunk’s success came as a surprise to the locals, who had expected Munch to take the prize.

The article goes on to highlight the cultural importance of FBW. While the event has been praised for raising public awareness about bear conservation, it has also been criticized by animal welfare advocates for potentially encouraging bears to eat excessively. However, the DNR explains that FBW is a natural part of the bears’ life cycle, and that the event is monitored to ensure the bears are not over‑fed or stressed. An ABBA spokesperson said, “It’s an educational tool. We want people to see how bears prepare for winter, and Chunk’s performance is a reminder that the bears in our backyards are remarkable.”

Chunk’s story doesn’t end with the trophy. The article reports that the local community has already started a fundraising drive to buy a permanent plaque at the local park, where the plaque will display Chunk’s name and weight. The community’s enthusiasm was captured in a short video clip embedded in the article, which shows children drawing bears in a classroom and a group of volunteers placing a wooden bear sculpture in the park.

A follow‑up link in the article directs readers to the official “Fat Bear Week” page, which includes a photo gallery of all the bears who have competed in the last decade, along with a downloadable PDF that explains the scoring methodology in detail. The PDF also features a short section on how to safely observe bears during FBW without disturbing them. The article encourages readers to visit the official FBW page for further learning, as well as a link to the Minnesota DNR’s “Bear Watching” guide, which provides safety tips for hikers and campers who wish to observe bears in the wild.

Chunk’s victory was celebrated not only by the local residents of White Bear Lake but also by a larger online community of wildlife enthusiasts. On Twitter, a number of wildlife photographers posted images of Chunk with the caption “Meet Chunk: the new Fat Bear of the Week!” The article also notes that a local artist has begun a commission to paint Chunk in watercolor, a project that will be displayed in the upcoming county fair.

Finally, the article highlights that Chunk’s win will be part of a long‑term effort to monitor bear health in the region. A collaboration between the DNR and the University of Minnesota’s School of Natural Resources will use Chunk’s data to track changes in bear populations and diet over the next decade. By documenting Chunk’s weight and food intake, scientists hope to gain insights into how climate change and human activity are impacting bear nutrition.

In summary, Chunk’s triumph during “Fat Bear Week” demonstrates the extraordinary adaptability of black bears and the public’s growing interest in wildlife conservation. While the bear’s hefty competition was a fun and engaging way to bring the forest to the people, it also served as a powerful reminder that these majestic creatures play a vital role in maintaining the health of the ecosystems they inhabit. Whether it’s through the official FBW website, local art projects, or community fundraising, Chunk’s legacy is sure to inspire both young and old to care for the bears that roam our backyards.