Katmai National Park and Preserve, a 4.09 million-acre wilderness on the Alaska Peninsula, hosts the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes and a thriving 2,200-bear population.
Maintenance projects across national parks face a growing backlog, with a $24 billion gap. White House priority lists tie funds to Washington, risking delayed repairs at sites nationwide.
Backpack has won Fat Bear Week at Katmai National Park, beating Bear 910 in the final vote. The 20-year-old bear, officially Bear 89, has cemented his reputation as a quiet, non-aggressive giant who fattens up on salmon ahead of winter.