The defensive mother bear has raised three litters.
But back in July, both of her first-year cubs were swept over the Brook Falls, where the Katmai bears gather to fatten up on salmon ahead of their winter hibernations.
According to the voting administrators, Explore.org, the rushing water swept her cubs toward Chunk, currently the most dominant male bear on the river.
As male bears sometimes do, Chunk went on the offence and injured the nearest cub, who later died from its injuries.
The surviving cub, called 128’s Spring Cub, was a contender in the 2024 Fat Bear Junior contest held in late September.
