Fat Bear Week 2025 has arrived, featuring some of the biggest and brawniest bears of Brooks River. Longtime fans will note that there are several beloved bears missing from this year’s bracket, which was released Monday. It is not uncommon for bears to wander and fish in other areas, thus their absence from the bear cameras does not necessarily mean they aren’t thriving elsewhere.
However, 480 Otis habitually came to Brooks River for over 20 documented years, and has not been seen now for two summers. If he’s out there, he would be almost 30 (well over 110 in human years). Sadly, it seems safe to assume he has walked into his long, deep dream.
[What to know about Fat Bear Week, and the brawny bruins battling for the title]
480 Otis was a four-time Fat Bear Week winner and a heavyweight champion of our hearts. As this year’s competition begins, we pay our respects to this marvel of a bear. As a new generation of bulky bruins competes for the 2025 title, let’s remember one of Katmai’s greatest.
480 Otis was first sighted in 2001 as an older subadult. The son of mystery parents, Otis lived to be one of the oldest documented bears at Katmai National Park. Legend has it, he was one of the oldest bears since the day he was born. 480 Otis was the gentlest of gentle giants. When he growled, it rained. When he ate, it shined. Every time he blinked, somewhere a broken heart healed.
Despite not having a competitive bone in his body, 480 Otis held more Fat Bear Week titles (2014, 2016, 2017, 2021) than any other bear at Katmai. The fandom of 480 Otis is near devotional; he is loved on a spiritual level. I once referred to him as “The Buddha of Brooks Falls” because of his Zen master approach to being a bear. He avoided conflict, he was the boss of sleeping and his signature fishing style was to sit in the river and stare at the water. He was very good at this, and he will be remembered in his full fatness.
Ever the gentleman, Otis was private about his courtship and mating. Because of this, and because his DNA sample was lost, he has no known offspring. However, 480 Otis is survived by his chosen family of friends and frenemies at Brooks River, including 128 Grazer, who was known to let her guard down near him, and 89 Backpack, who is debated to be a possible son. He was, perhaps, a mentor to 164 Bucky, who used to sit beside Otis in The Office (Otis’ favorite fishing spot). He is also survived by hundreds of thousands of human fans around the globe whose streams of memories he’ll forever fish in.
A natural celebration of life is underway today and every day at Katmai National Park, home to one of the healthiest and most abundant ecosystems in the world. In lieu of flowers, may I suggest a donation to The Otis Fund, which supports Katmai Conservancy’s research, education and outreach.
480 Otis was viewed for many years online thanks to Explore.org’s Brooks Falls bear cams. Those same cameras captured what we believe to be our last sighting of him. Recorded in 2023, viewers witnessed Otis — the bear, the myth, the legend — walking toward the light.
Good night, Otis. You were loved.