Bear 32 "Chunk"

Bear 32 "Chunk" stands below Brooks Falls. You can see his broken jaw and canine tooth on the right side of his snout

NPS/ C. Loberg

A lot can be learned from the individual bears of Brooks River. Each bears’ story connects visitors to the interrelated world of bears and salmon, and many other species in Katmai National Park. This page contains a brief history of this Brooks River Bear

Year first Identified: young subadult in 2007

ID Characteristics: 32 has medium brown fur in the early summer that sheds to dark brown fur in the fall. He has a “lightbulb” shaped body with a dish-shaped face profile. 32 has a prominent scar going diagonally across his muzzle

In early summer 2025, 32 returned to the Brooks River with a broken jaw. Park staff are unsure how this happened, but was likely due to a fight with another male bear. This break is permanent and has fully healed. His jaw is still attached to the rest of the mandible but hangs off the right side of his muzzle. Even though he sustained this injury, he is still able to successfully eat and gain enough weight to survive winter hibernation.

ID Behaviors: 32 has been the most dominant bear on the Brooks River and will defend his food sources including his preferred fishing spots below Brooks Falls. 32 has been seen courting many females and can be defensive over females as well. 32 is one of the largest bears seen at Brooks River and gets very fat in the fall, granting him the nickname “Chunk.”

Bear 32 stands below Brooks Falls. His broken jaw and large scar across his muzzle are identifiable features of this individual bear.

NPS/ T. Carmack

Tags: brooks river bear, katmai, brown bear, brooks river