# Katmai Brown Bear Cam is up! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 26, 2019, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katmai-brown-bear-cam-is-up/836123 "2019-06-26T20:19:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2021, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katmai-brown-bear-cam-is-up/836123/21 "2021-10-04T19:51:24Z")
I watched an exchange not too long ago, one younger bear was eating his salmon, and some big bully bear came by, drove the youngster off, and stole his fish! And the youngster looks at the camera like “aw, man I was eating that!” ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2021, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katmai-brown-bear-cam-is-up/836123/22 "2021-10-07T01:49:35Z")
Otis has won the fat bear vote. He gave us all a bit of a scare when he showed up very late at the falls. He packed on the pounds, like the champ he is and is looking good for hibernation. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2021, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katmai-brown-bear-cam-is-up/836123/23 "2021-10-07T02:06:36Z")
I was worried about Otis. He wasn’t looking good when he showed up. I’m glad to see he’s made up for lost time. It turns out he’s old for a Grizzly in the wild - 25. He’s also missing some teeth. Good for him for fattening up. My other favorite was Holly. She got knocked out early this time. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2022, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katmai-brown-bear-cam-is-up/836123/24 "2022-07-26T16:31:38Z")
The bear cam is back for 2022! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/mphg2feuAPo/maxresdefault.jpg "Brooks Falls - Katmai National Park, Alaska 2022 powered by EXPLORE.org") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mphg2feuAPo) ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2022, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katmai-brown-bear-cam-is-up/836123/25 "2022-07-26T19:42:45Z")
and otis got to the falls in good time this year. he is on nap watch. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2022, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katmai-brown-bear-cam-is-up/836123/26 "2022-08-17T14:48:40Z")
Been watching this a lot lately. Otis is some kind of fish whisperer. Other bears are having to focus and move fast to catch their fish; Otis just sits off to the side, staring down at the water, and then slowly dips his muzzle in and comes out with a fish. Over and over again. Fun to watch the bears, but it’s a house of horrors for the salmon. When the fishing is good, the bears prefer to eat just the skin - so you end up with skinned-alive salmon drifting downstream and waiting, presumably in unspeakable agony, for the sweet release of death. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2022, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katmai-brown-bear-cam-is-up/836123/27 "2022-08-17T16:20:25Z")
Wow! Just saw a salmon leap directly into a bear’s mouth! Last thought: “Aw, hell, man. . .” Damn, he just did it again! ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2022, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katmai-brown-bear-cam-is-up/836123/28 "2022-08-17T18:20:25Z")
otis is the zen master. he is amazing. as of 31 july nearly 78.4 million salmon swam through bristol bay waters. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2022, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katmai-brown-bear-cam-is-up/836123/29 "2022-08-22T21:13:31Z")
For anyone wondering what the various specific places are (at the falls) that people in the chat keep referring to, someone in the chat posted this link to a very helpful annotated photo: > **[Labeled-Lian-Law-Brooks-Falls-Photo.jpg](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1N9CTpSMc4jB9WkDHnWxA6RChHL4er1LW/view)** > > Google Drive file. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2022, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katmai-brown-bear-cam-is-up/836123/30 "2022-08-23T10:17:31Z")
Watching right now … but it’s 02:15 and it’s dark… so no bears, but i’ve seen several shooting stars !! Or they may be fireflies. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2022, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katmai-brown-bear-cam-is-up/836123/31 "2022-10-12T14:05:54Z")
747, bear force one has won the fat bear title this year. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2023, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katmai-brown-bear-cam-is-up/836123/32 "2023-07-14T13:57:42Z")
the bear cam is back, as are the salmon (finally!). even a drizzly day in alaska is gorgeous. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2023, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katmai-brown-bear-cam-is-up/836123/33 "2023-07-14T15:00:08Z")
Seems like everyone is running late this year - the bears _and_ the salmon. Even now, only five bears at the falls, and I didn’t see any salmon after a few minutes of watching. Still waiting for Otis to make an appearance. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2023, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katmai-brown-bear-cam-is-up/836123/34 "2023-07-14T16:28:35Z")
Black Bear visiting a co-workers condo for a snack a couple of days ago. Real darn big for a black bear. But we don’t have Brown Bears around here… as far as I know. That would be a whole different situation. [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/8q88Yg6.png "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/8q88Yg6) ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2023, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katmai-brown-bear-cam-is-up/836123/35 "2023-07-27T00:46:37Z")
Otis arrived yesterday, July 26, and snagged a fish almost immediately. Two years ago, he arrived on the very same day. This year, he probably replaced the batts in his clock radio. My wife has been fretting like crazy the last few weeks, she was actually singing a made up Otis song not 5 minutes ago. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2023, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katmai-brown-bear-cam-is-up/836123/36 "2023-07-27T12:53:33Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > This year, he probably replaced the batts in his clock radio. My wife has been fretting like crazy the last few weeks, she was actually singing a made up Otis song not 5 minutes ago. Sounds like my wife. She was almost crying tear of joy last night when she saw that Otis had finally showed up. Last Fall she bought an Otis 480 Christmas tree ornament (which I do kinda like): > **[Ornament - Otis](https://katmaiconservancy.org/products/ornament-otis)** > > Otis holds a special place among the Fat Bear Week royalty as the inaugural champion in 2014 and a repeat winner in 2016, 2017, and 2021. Otis can often be seen in his “office,” a particular spot at Brooks Falls, waiting patiently for fish. As... Interestingly, he seems a lot more light on his feet and active at his current weight. By late summer he’s so fat that he doesn’t move around much. The bad news is that he seems to be missing more teeth than ever; he spent an awful long time last night chewing on a hunk of fish before being able to swallow. Hope he can still pack away enough calories this summer to make it through another winter. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2023, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katmai-brown-bear-cam-is-up/836123/37 "2023-07-27T12:55:27Z")
he is in his office this morning. all is good. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2023, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katmai-brown-bear-cam-is-up/836123/38 "2023-07-27T19:05:40Z")
I really need to read these posts to myself first – I’m on the hook with my wife, now, for an ornament _and_ a fridge magnet (maybe 2; they _are_ nice). 😄 I got a good look at Otis an hour ago; he looks like a walking ad for bear cancer. You can see almost every bone in his body. Still fishing with the best of 'em, though. I’m sure someone’s mentioned it, but how much weight do they put on before sleepy-time comes? ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2023, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katmai-brown-bear-cam-is-up/836123/39 "2023-07-27T19:18:14Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > I’m sure someone’s mentioned it, but how much weight do they put on before sleepy-time comes? Wikipedia says the males can put on 500 pounds: > **[Fat Bear Week](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fat_Bear_Week)** > > Fat Bear Week is an annual event held in October by Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska, commemorating the impressive seasonal preparations made by brown bears inhabiting Katmai as they ready themselves for their winter hibernation. The competition is jointly organized by the National Park Service and Explore.org. Human spectators from around the world are invited to participate by casting online votes to determine the bear that has most effectively accumulated fat reserves. In 2023, A Th... > Adult males can gain up to 500 pounds (230 kg) and weigh up to 1,200 pounds (540 kg) when hibernation starts. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2023, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katmai-brown-bear-cam-is-up/836123/40 "2023-07-27T19:20:35Z")
Thanks for the info. I …think I need to get on the treadmill. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katmai-brown-bear-cam-is-up/836123.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katmai-brown-bear-cam-is-up/836123.md?page=3)