ALASKA — At Anan Wildlife Observatory near Wrangell, Alaska, a new set of influencers have taken the Internet by storm by capturing the attention and hearts of millions of social media viewers. 

The Tongass National Forest’s annual Anan Bear Awards showcased the now viral black and brown bears' range of talents from a brown bear's expert fishing skills winning “Fishing in Style,” to a black bear's lack thereof being awarded “Slippery Paws.” 

About 23 skillful bears made an immense impact on the Tongass social media accounts logging in over 5 million views and over 4,000 new followers. 

One of the four-legged influencers, a cub that was not quite ready to claim expert hunting abilities, received 2.1 million views after winning the “Nope” award!

The idea for the Anan Bear Awards originated on a whiteboard in 2022, after staff at the observatory were inspired by the National Park Service’s Fat Bear Week. Enter Forest Service Forestry Technician Jennifer Kardiak, who wanted to celebrate all aspects of the Anan bears, not just their figures. 

“We are letting the bears tell us what makes them special,” Kardiak said. What began as a funny exercise with Kardiak naming and assigning awards to the active bears, evolved into a successful social media campaign.

Through the collaborative efforts of the Anan crew and public affairs staff, the creative initiative fostered a deeper connection between people from all over the globe and the thriving ecosystems of the nation’s largest national forest.  

“Many people may never have the opportunity to visit Alaska and experience the beauty of the Tongass and its incredible bears firsthand,” Kardiak explained. “The yearly awards provide a virtual window into the world of these amazing bears. It allows viewers to connect with the forest and its inhabitants, which inspire a sense of wonder, awe, appreciation and a desire to protect this invaluable ecosystem.” 

Whether a viewer, social media follower, or simply a fan of the talented and unique bears, all can certainly identify with Team Alaska’s regional theme, where nature, people and tradition come together.