KATMAI PLAYOFFS ยท 2026
The party's over. This is the read-only archive: browse the roster, the feast and the bears, or see how Bracket Night ended.
Bear 480 (Otis) at Brooks River
480 ยท Otis
ADULT MALE
FISHESJacuzziFar Pool
FAT BEAR RECORD
๐Ÿ† โ€™14๐Ÿ† โ€™16๐Ÿ† โ€™17๐Ÿ† โ€™21
Four-time champ. Living legend.

Champion in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2021, plus runner-up in 2015. The beloved aging legend rather than the default winner.

ID MARKS AND HINTS

#480 has a dark blonde coat, tan tipped claws, and some scars on both sides of his neck. His ears are wide set. His muzzle is long, straight, and narrow.

In the fall months, he has a walrus-like body and a relatively thick, wrinkled neck.

Bear 480 (Otis) at Brooks River
Another look from the guide. Coats darken and bodies fill out as the season goes on, so the same bear can look like two.
LIFE HISTORY

#480, along with #218, uses some of the most efficient fishing techniques at the falls. He prefers the jacuzzi, but unlike many other bears, he is often tolerant of numerous other bears around him while he eats. These bears wait patiently for him to finish and eat any leftover scraps.

In September, he is one of the few bears that can successfully fish at Brooks Falls. Late in the season, he is often seen fishing the far pool.

Text and photographs from Bears of Brooks River, National Park Service, Katmai National Park and Preserve. Page 19.