Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

An Elderly 'Fat Bear Week' Champion Just Made His Triumphant Return—And Fans Are Cheering

Otis the bear
National Park Service/explore.org

Bear 480, also known as King Otis to fans, was spotted back in Alaska’s Katmai National Park at the age of 27.

Bear 480 Otis, an esteemed brown bear believed to be approximately 27 years old, has returned to Alaska's Katmai National Park just in time for the salmon season.

Most bears rarely live as long as he has.


According to Mike Fitz, a former Katmai park ranger and the resident naturalist at Explore.org,

A bear that's around 30 years of age is approaching what would be the equivalent of a 100-year-old person."
"Most bears don't have the fortune of living that long.”

Otis gained national attention through Fat Bear Week, an annual event organized by Fitz. During the summer, brown bears come back to Brooks River in the park to fish for salmon and prepare for hibernation.

Fat Bear Week takes place in the fall, where fans can vote for their favorite chonk in a March Madness-style bracket. Otis has been crowned the winner four times, earning him the nickname "King Otis."

While Otis is highly revered, Katmai Ranger Cheryl Spencer disclosed a more playful nickname for him: "Floaty Otie."

In the fall, he usually starts fishing for salmon in the lower part of Brooks River and gradually floats to Brooks Falls as the season progresses.

Earlier this month, concerns arose among the viewers of Explore.org's bear live cam when Otis didn't appear at the river with other bears.

However, on Wednesday, the website delightedly announced his return with a video clip of the thin and somewhat bedraggled-looking senior bear standing in the river's current.

Climate change is posing a threat to salmon and bears like Otis, who depend on them for sustenance.

Explore.org spokesperson Candice Rusch explained:

“The last time he showed up this late, salmon were also late, and the salmon were late this year as well.”

The delayed salmon run is becoming a trend in Alaska, meaning bears like Otis have to wait longer for their food.

People are overjoyed their favorite bear made it back just in time.



















Despite the challenges, Otis was seen successfully catching fish shortly after his late arrival this year.

Admirers of this long-lived bear expressed joy and relief that he would be around for another season to continue captivating hearts.

More from Trending

Donald Trump; Barack Obama
Suzanne Plunkett-Pool/Getty Images; Scott Olson/Getty Images

Resurfaced Trump Tweet Criticizing Obama Over Iran Comes Back To Bite Him

Amid tensions with Iran, President Donald Trump was criticized for hypocrisy after social media users resurfaced a 2013 tweet in which he accused former President Barack Obama of planning an attack on Iran because of his "inability to negotiate properly."

Trump has declined to clarify whether the U.S. is edging closer to launching strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, following a warning from Iran’s supreme leader against any attack and a rejection of Trump’s demand for surrender.

Keep ReadingShow less
​​Elon Musk
Allison Robbert/AFP via Getty Images

Anti-Elon Banner at Stanford

Stanford University graduates were given creative advice from above as an airplane flew over the graduation ceremony with a banner reading, “CONGRATS! DON’T WORK FOR ELON.”

The moment was captured last Sunday during the university’s 134th Commencement ceremony, where the Class of 2025 received their degrees at Stanford Stadium.

Keep ReadingShow less
Simone Ashley; Brad Pitt in 'F1'
Arnold Jerocki/L'Oreal/Getty Images

'F1' Director Speaks Out After Fan Outrage Over 'Bridgerton' Star's Scenes Getting Cut From Film

Once the F1 Grand Prix bug bites you, it's hard to let the passion and drive for the sport go, and most fans are eager to consume any additional content, from interviews to documentaries to full-length films.

Coming later this month is F1, starring Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes, who missed his shot at stardom in a near-fatal accident in the 1990s. Thirty years later, his former team is struggling to succeed and convince him to come back to the track, but this time, he has to learn that it's not something he can do alone.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sabrina Carpenter attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style."
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Sabrina Carpenter claps back

Sabrina Carpenter’s latest album has caused quite a stir in people's espresso after she revealed the cover art in a post on X.

On June 11th, the American singer posted the image of herself on her hands and knees, wearing a black bodycon dress with a ribbon and black heels. Carpenter’s hand touches the knee of a mystery man wearing a black suit who is seen gripping a lock of the bombshell blonde’s hair.

Keep ReadingShow less
Aubrey Anderson-Emmons
Christopher Polk/Penske Media/Getty Images

'Modern Family' Star Comes Out As Bisexual Using Iconic Clip From The Show

When your breakout role was on something as iconic and nostalgic as Modern Family, of course you'd have to use a moment from the show when you have big news to share.

A favorite moment in the show took place when Mitch and Cam (Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet) were having dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant with their adopted daughter, Lily (Aubrey Anderson-Emmons), and their sister, Gloria (Sofía Vergara). In the scene, Vergara encourages Lily to try the Pho to connect with her family roots because "she's Vietnamese."

Keep ReadingShow less