The defending champion, back from a broken jaw and a mysterious summer.

The reigning king of Mt. Bearlympus has a comeback story and a mystery. First identified as an independent, chunky-looking 2.5-year-old in 2007, Chunk grew into his nickname and is now one of the largest bears at the river. In June 2025 he broke his jaw. No one saw it happen, but the fracture strongly suggests a fight with another bear. It was perhaps the most serious injury of his life, and it left a protruding canine tooth to go with the large scar on his muzzle.

Chunk adapted and recovered. His size ensured high rank and good access to fishing spots, and 2025's exceptionally abundant salmon run let him satisfy his hunger with ease. This summer, though, he made few appearances at Brooks River before September, and nobody knows where he was making his living. His low-hanging belly is evidence he was eating well somewhere. The mystery remains, but the body size doesn't lie. Can the defending champ hold on to the salmon wreath?