In a free virtual program presented live by the UT Arboretum Society from Katmai National Park in Alaska, an interpretive ranger will tell the audience about Fat Bear Week and the importance of salmon in our ecosystem on Tuesday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m.
Fat Bear Week is a contest where participants vote for the fattest bear of the year, according to a press release. Some of the largest brown bears on Earth make their home at Brooks River in Katmai National Park.
Brown bears get fat to survive, and Fat Bear Week is an annual tournament celebrating their success in preparation for winter hibernation.
In its 10th year, Fat Bear Week has become a media phenomenon, and it has had a tremendous impact on Katmai National Park. The event ended on Oct. 8, and this presentation will provide the audience with a live update from one of the park’s rangers.
At Katmai, bears are drawn to the large number of salmon readily available from roughly late June through September. Salmon have long since been the lifeblood of the area, supporting Katmai's people, bears and other animals.
Fat bears exemplify the richness of this area, a wild region that is home to more brown bears than people and the largest, healthiest runs of sockeye salmon left on the planet.
Ranger Keith Moore will share his research and explain why salmon are the life force of so many coastal Alaskan ecosystems.
”Their presence weaves the strands of which entire ecological processes are held together. Culturally, they have shaped humanity since time immemorial and are a sacred part of this world. If we lose these amazing creatures, we lose more than just a fish; we lose the complex interactions that depend on their existence,” said Ranger Moore.
“This is why we must protect our remaining watersheds from being destroyed and why we need to prioritize reclamation of existing ones."
Growing up in the swamps of South Florida, Ranger Moore had an early exposure to the natural wonders of an ecologically rich and biodiverse environment.
“Most of my life has revolved around observing the ecological marvels that unfold around us, and my passion is to share that in a meaningful and relevant way,” said Moore. “When I was a kid, my parents took me on several trips to the National Parks — including Bryce Canyon, Zion, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Grand Teton.
"Backpacking trips during Boy Scouts fueled my desire to seek out wild places, and I knew a career in the outdoor industry was right for me. I pursued a degree from Florida Gulf Coast University in Environmental Studies and Geology.”
Registration for the program is required to receive the Zoom link and the recording that will be sent to all who register at www.utarboretumsociety.org/programs/. Closed captions are available. Contact Michelle at mcampani@utk.edu for any questions or registration issues.
The Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2024. It is one of the 10 University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture AgResearch and Education Centers located throughout Tennessee. The Institute of Agriculture also provides instruction, research and public service through the UT Herbert College of Agriculture, the UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch and UT Extension offices … with locations in every county in the state.
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