Every autumn, Alaska’s bears get their moment in the spotlight. This year, one of them earned its title in a very unusual way.
The Award Nobody Asked For
Rangers in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest have given their 2026 “Host With the Most” award to an unnamed bear that was seen walking along Anan Creek with several long tapeworms hanging from its rear end, according to Popular Science. The Forest Service said that seeing a bear with a single tapeworm isn’t unusual at Anan, “but seeing one bear with multiple long tapeworms … yikes!”
Tapeworms are intestinal parasites that live in an animal’s gut and take nutrients from their host. In extreme cases, they can grow over 80 feet long, though they’re often less than an inch wide.
Where the Bears Are Dining
Tongass is the largest national forest in the United States, covering most of Southeast Alaska, including the capital city of Juneau. Anan Creek is one of its wildlife hotspots, home to one of the largest pink salmon runs in the region and the Anan Wildlife Observatory, where visitors watch bears feed.
According to Friends of Anan, 39 known bears gather there to feast on salmon: 31 black bears and eight brown bears. Like the famous bears of Katmai National Park, they return each summer to eat and teach their young how to fish. The Forest Service documents each bear, and explore.org broadcasts live cameras showing their activities.
How the Anan Bear Awards Began
The Anan Bear Awards began in 2022. Staff at the observatory first scribbled the joke awards on a whiteboard at the end of the season, and the Forest Service then turned them into a social media campaign inspired by Katmai’s Fat Bear Week. Unlike Fat Bear Week, the awards have been chosen by Forest Service staff based on each bear’s personality and antics, rather than by public vote. Early categories included Fattest Bear, Best Fishing Style, Cutest Bear and Most Chill Bear.
The Other 2026 Winners
The tapeworm bear isn’t the only winner this year. Osso, an adult female black bear first spotted in 2022 with a white, I-shaped patch on her chest, won the 2026 Mama Bear Award after beating out a brown bear named Scuba Sue. Osso’s own cub took home the “Worst at Hide-and-Seek” award.
Watching Bears Without Disturbing Them
You don’t need to travel to Alaska to enjoy the show. Explore.org’s live cameras let you watch Anan’s bears from home. For those who do visit, here are a few tips:
- Keep your distance. Stay far from wildlife and never approach bears or cubs.
- Follow the rules. Use designated viewing areas and obey Forest Service guidance.
- Store food securely. Never feed or leave food accessible to bears.
Planning an Alaska Wildlife Trip?
Southeast Alaska is a popular destination for bear viewing and glacier tours. Compare your options:
- Trips. Look at Alaska cruise deals, bear viewing tours and Juneau excursions.
- Travel protection. Review travel insurance, cancellation coverage and medical evacuation insurance.
- Gear. Consider binoculars, telephoto camera lenses and waterproof jackets.
- Pet owners. Tapeworms aren’t just a wildlife problem, so ask a vet about dog and cat dewormer, flea prevention and pet insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which bear won the Host With the Most award? An unnamed bear at Anan Creek in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest that was seen with multiple long tapeworms.
Where is Anan Creek? It’s in Southeast Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, the largest national forest in the United States, and it has one of the largest pink salmon runs in the region.
How many bears live there? Friends of Anan counts 39 known bears, including 31 black bears and eight brown bears.
Who picks the winners? Forest Service staff choose the winners, rather than the public voting as in Fat Bear Week.
Who won the 2026 Mama Bear Award? Osso, an adult female black bear with a white chest patch shaped like the letter I.
Sources: Popular Science, Alaska Public Media, the Juneau Empire, the Wrangell Sentinel, and the USDA Forest Service, all covering the 2026 Anan Bear Awards at Tongass National Forest, including the “Host With the Most” award for a bear with multiple tapeworms.
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