Round two of voting in Fat Bear Week 2026 has begun, drawing massive public interest and causing the event's website to crash earlier this week. Fat Bear Week is an annual online event hosted by Explore.org that celebrates the hibernation season of bears in Alaska's Katmai National Park. Each year, fans vote for their favorite bears based on their weight gain, with the goal of identifying the "fattest" bear of the season. This year's event has seen record-breaking participation, with thousands of visitors attempting to access the site simultaneously. The event portal, which allows users to view live webcams of the bears and cast their votes, experienced technical difficulties due to the high volume of traffic. Explore.org has since worked to stabilize the site and ensure continued access for participants. Despite the initial issues, the enthusiasm for Fat Bear Week remains strong, with social media platforms buzzing with discussions and predictions about which bears might take the top spot. Mike Fitz, a resident naturalist at Explore.org, joined CBS News to discuss the excitement surrounding this year’s event. Fitz highlighted the educational value of Fat Bear Week, explaining that it not only engages the public in the lives of wild bears but also raises awareness about the importance of preserving their habitats. He noted that the event has grown significantly since its inception, becoming a global phenomenon that brings together bear enthusiasts from around the world. As voting continues, the competition for the title of "Fat Bear" is heating up. With more than a million votes already cast in the first round, the public is eagerly awaiting the results of the second round. Explore.org has assured fans that the website will remain accessible throughout the event, and they are preparing for the possibility of further traffic surges. For now, the bears of Katmai are the stars of the show, and their journey toward hibernation continues to captivate audiences worldwide.