Otis, also known as Grizzly 480 (born c. 1996), is a grizzly bear living in Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska. He is best known for winning Fat Bear Week four times: in 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2021.[1] His appearances on Katmai bear cameras and in Fat Bear Week earned him an online following, and Katmai named a fund after the bear.[2][3][4]
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Otis was first sighted at Brooks Falls in 2001, at which point he was 4-6 years old.[5]
Otis became known for his patient fishing strategy, choosing to sit on the shore of the Brooks River and scoop up fish rather than actively seek out fish within the river. He also tended to avoid conflict with other bears, leading him to be called a "zen master".[5][6][7]
In 2019, Otis was estimated to weigh 900 pounds as he entered hibernation.[8] By 2021, Otis was missing two of his canine teeth.[9] One ranger noted in 2023, "if you see a bear with a floppy left ear, who’s pretty old and he’s got like two teeth, that is definitely 480".[10] Some bear cam viewers suggested he "resembles a well-loved teddy bear".[5]
Otis was not spotted during the 2024 season. Given his age, rangers suspected he had died, but noted it was also possible he had chosen to summer elsewhere in Katmai.[5][11]
References
edit- ^ "Fat Bear Week - Katmai National Park & Preserve". U.S. National Park Service. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
- ^ Donaghue, Erin (2022-10-05). "How the Bears at Alaska's Katmai National Park Became Celebrities". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
- ^ Berger, Erin (2018-10-02). "The Glory of Otis, Fattest of the Fat Bears". Outside Online. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
- ^ Greenberg, Jake (2018-10-06). "Meet Otis, Champion of Alaska's Fat Bear Competition". InsideHook. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
- ^ a b c d Donaghue, Erin (2024-10-01). "The Chonky Superstar of Fat Bear Week Is Missing, and the Competition Won't Be the Same Without Him". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
- ^ Roy, Adam (2017-10-19). "Meet Otis, the Fattest Bear". Backpacker. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
- ^ Fitz, Michael (2013-12-31). "2013 Bearcam Year in Review". U.S. National Park Service.
- ^ Diaz, Johnny (2021-10-06). "Fat Bear Week: 480 Otis Takes Title for 4th Time". The New York Times.
- ^ Chappell, Bill (2021-10-06). "Fat Bear Week has a champion: All hail 480 Otis". NPR.
- ^ Venua, Brian (2023-08-01). "One of the oldest – and most beloved – bears at Katmai National Park finally returns to Brooks Falls". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
- ^ Roy, Adam (2024-09-27). "Farewell to Otis, the King of Fat Bear Week". Backpacker. Retrieved 2024-10-24.