Ready for ‘Fat Bear Week?’ Park ranger Felicia Jimenez and wildlife biologist Dr. Michael Saxon join WIRED to talk to us about all things brown bear bulk, from how they fish for tens of thousands of calories a day to the evolutionary reasons behind their salmon snacking prowess.
Director: Katherine Wzorek
Editor: Richard Trammell
Expert: Felicia Jimenez; Dr. Michael Saxton
Line Producer: Joseph Buscemi
Associate Producer: Kameryn Hamilton
Production Manager: D. Eric Martinez
Production Coordinator: Fernando Davila
Post Production Supervisor: Alexa Deutsch
Post Production Coordinator: Ian Bryant
Supervising Editor: Doug Larsen
Assistant Editor: Andy Morell
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Noble George
October 4, 2023 at 12:01 pm
gehehe bears eheh
Eboni
October 4, 2023 at 12:02 pm
I love these guys. So cool. Fat boys.
PhilosopherKing
October 4, 2023 at 12:10 pm
I like bears, too, but how is this relevant to Wired?
Duckmasterflex
October 4, 2023 at 12:14 pm
Bear technology duh
ZivZulander
October 4, 2023 at 12:15 pm
It’s not. Every mainstream media outlet is turning into the same kind of random collection of content because they overbuilt and overhired during the era of easy money. Now they are having to resort to layoffs, cutbacks, and content diversification to also make up for declining ad revenue (whole mess of issues with that). Seeing the same thing with Business Insider (which is now just “Insider”) and Fortune.
PhilosopherKing
October 4, 2023 at 12:26 pm
@Duckmasterflex lol
PhilosopherKing
October 4, 2023 at 12:27 pm
@ZivZulander I agree, and it’s really unfortunate to say the least.
cherry blossoms
October 4, 2023 at 12:12 pm
I love bears. Seeing skinny bears or after they’ve lost their fat feels weird. I didn’t know such a competition existed.
BSnufkin
October 4, 2023 at 12:15 pm
If there was a way to medically induce this type of hibernation in people! Imagine losing 1/3 of your body weight over 5 month period. You can still be somewhat active during the day but you don’t feel hunger and you don’t need to drink. Chores done and forget the diet because you’re not hungry!
Gerard
October 4, 2023 at 12:17 pm
Same
Jo Po
October 4, 2023 at 12:19 pm
It’s amazing they can catch something as quick as a salmon.
I guess even bears get fat eating fast food.
M. Karim
October 4, 2023 at 12:47 pm
😂
NorielGames
October 5, 2023 at 3:25 pm
That was a good one!
Ozzie
October 4, 2023 at 12:21 pm
just a diet of broccoli and salmon.
ds xa
October 5, 2023 at 10:09 am
Mullet grows strong!
GodlessPhilosopher
October 7, 2023 at 11:30 pm
Just like a bodybuilder (+chicken of course). Fat Bear Week and Mr. Olympia are my favorite competitions of the year.
foxeneisen
October 4, 2023 at 12:22 pm
bear
Alisa Smith
October 4, 2023 at 12:29 pm
gehehe bears eheh
Levishka Tishka
October 4, 2023 at 12:31 pm
Yall dont know about the kodiak bear
Suchnothing
October 9, 2023 at 8:24 am
Imagine how fat they get in the fall 😮
・your non favorite person 👍・
October 4, 2023 at 1:09 pm
I like bears, too, but how is this relevant to Wired?
Janet F
October 4, 2023 at 1:53 pm
128 Grazer gets my vote👍
Van San Francisco
October 4, 2023 at 4:44 pm
The big bear
UkroNazis_Started_The_War_Nov.2013_before_Ru_Came
October 4, 2023 at 4:44 pm
The big bear
The Fear
October 4, 2023 at 5:24 pm
how is the sockeye salmon 2000 – 5000 calories? am I missing something here, how is that more calories than a popeyes meal?
Mike
October 4, 2023 at 11:01 pm
Each fish is probably at least few pounds each. Let’s say each fish has 2.2 lbs of “meat” after subtracting the weight of bones and stuff like that. Converting to grams, 2.2 lbs is 1 kg which is 1000g. I don’t know actual values but maybe 800g of the meat is protein and 200g are fat. Protein is 4 calories per gram and fat is 9 calories per gram. That gives you 800g x 4 calories/gram + 200g x 9 cal/gram = 5000 calories.
The Fear
October 5, 2023 at 12:12 am
@Mike Genuinely the smartest YouTube comment reply, respect
Breezy
October 5, 2023 at 9:22 pm
Mind blown😅
Ryan Watterson
October 6, 2023 at 5:14 am
The eggs they carry are extremely high in energy
The Fear
October 6, 2023 at 6:17 pm
@Ryan Watterson makes sense, im used to humans cutting out so much of the fish
Suchnothing
October 9, 2023 at 8:22 am
@The FearI think we also don’t eat the whole fish ourselves. One sockeye salmon can feed a small family (with sides like rice and veggies). They’re big fish!
Sgt.Briskee
October 13, 2023 at 2:00 am
@Mikehold on right there. You can not directly convert the weight of the fish directly to grams of protein because a lot that weight is actually water and other micro and macro nutrients. 1000 grams of fish does not directly translate to 100% protein and fat.
Paddy
October 4, 2023 at 5:39 pm
I feel seen.
rika
October 4, 2023 at 7:04 pm
It’s not fat, they are just big boned! 😤
loveforeignaccents
October 4, 2023 at 7:33 pm
Pleasingly plump 😋😋
loveforeignaccents
October 4, 2023 at 7:35 pm
I don’t know why they can’t be like most other animals, instead of laying low all winter.
Suchnothing
October 9, 2023 at 8:20 am
There isn’t enough to eat during the winter. Most animals actually hibernate or migrate away for the winter months. Only a small handful of specialists remain fully active year round in cold northern regions.
Heather SZ
October 5, 2023 at 10:35 am
Go fat bears go!
Dexy83🌊
October 5, 2023 at 5:38 pm
I absolutely love this so very much! ❤🐻
Justin
October 5, 2023 at 9:34 pm
why do they have bald spots?
sora, grazer stan 👑
October 9, 2023 at 8:34 pm
they were shedding their winter fur when any bald spot photos were taken. 747 in particular has the worlds most unfortunate shed pattern, every spring/early summer hes covered in patchy bald spots
Don Corleone
October 6, 2023 at 10:18 am
Dude these bears are pro fishermen 😂
Larry F. Pastor
October 6, 2023 at 12:01 pm
“Number 32 Chunk”, what a great name 😎🤙🏽😂
Penguin Lord Sauron
October 12, 2023 at 4:06 am
21 Savage 🤝 32 Chunk
dead01
October 6, 2023 at 10:12 pm
They sum thicc bears
colorado841
October 7, 2023 at 1:40 am
Can we have fat human week?
Tobias Edwards
October 7, 2023 at 6:48 pm
I’m definitely winning that.
Suchnothing
October 9, 2023 at 8:23 am
I’m not obese, I’m prepared for a long winter of hibernation 😏
KANEDA KEN
October 7, 2023 at 2:21 am
I love how the Park Ranger talks about the bears. Like they are her kids😂
mark zubeger
October 7, 2023 at 4:57 pm
lets goo fat bear
AutumnMoonBloodWolf
October 7, 2023 at 5:01 pm
They call him 747 cause he’s the size of a Boeing jetliner lol
Melanie Van de Walle
October 9, 2023 at 12:57 pm
he actually got his number WAY before he was that big, he is over 20. It was self-fulfilling, lol
xexzersy
October 7, 2023 at 9:51 pm
massive bulk
Fade Music
October 8, 2023 at 11:18 am
can I…. can I eat the leftover salmon?
XPNDBLhero
October 8, 2023 at 4:50 pm
Chunk is my vote…. 😂
Steven Motschwiller
October 8, 2023 at 10:08 pm
The wildlife biologist and Park ranger are so freaking cool
Somnus Waltz
October 8, 2023 at 10:45 pm
The fatter they are, the more adorable they look 🐻 ❤❤❤
Chetawan Ung-adjmagool
October 9, 2023 at 1:28 am
Bear 747 also has a nickname: Bear Force One.
Suchnothing
October 9, 2023 at 8:21 am
That bear is an absolute unit
Wasidana Tsali
October 11, 2023 at 10:44 am
Aka the Bearoplane
roximama
October 9, 2023 at 4:41 am
Vote for Grazer! She has earned it this year.
32 Chunk-FBW champion
October 9, 2023 at 7:47 am
Let’s go 32 Chunk!❤❤
Psycho4agY
October 9, 2023 at 7:47 am
Let’s go 32 Chunk!❤❤
Dead Eyes
October 10, 2023 at 12:19 pm
Where is this place located?
Cara
October 12, 2023 at 5:04 pm
Alaska
jameson stalanthas yu
October 11, 2023 at 6:07 pm
I was surprised to find out that all the tracking and monitoring of these fat bears this week was contingent on Congress passing a budget. Crisis averted!
Jim Klees
October 11, 2023 at 11:12 pm
In my prime I can only eat a half of one. 🐻🎣🎣🥳