Fat Bear Week and the Law of Wild Animals

It’s Fat Bear Week! Each fall, Katmai National Park in Alaska celebrates the massive brown bears who spend their summer fishing at Brooks River, bulking up for the long hibernation ahead. The park even sets up a tournament-style bracket where bears are matched against each other, and fans vote online to decide which one best exemplifies the spirit of survival through sheer fatness. The photos are adorable, the matchups entertaining, and the whole event has become a quirky, educational celebration of conservation that makes us cheer for these “cuddly” giants.

But here’s the important reminder if you're preparing for the bar exam: No matter how cuddly a wild animal may look, in the eyes of the law, it's still a wild animal.

The Legal Distinction: Wild vs. Domestic

Under tort law, courts sometimes distinguish between wild animals and domestic animals:

• Wild animals are species not normally domesticated—think bears, lions, and tigers, monkeys, and yes, even pet alligators. If a person keeps a wild animal, they're generally held strictly liable for any harm it causes. It doesn’t matter if the owner used extreme care, secure cages, or warning signs. The law assumes wild animals are inherently dangerous.

  
  

• Domestic animals include dogs, cats, and livestock—think species that have been bred and kept by humans for centuries. Strict liability doesn’t usually apply unless the animal has known dangerous propensities abnormal to its species. In other words, a “first bite” might not trigger strict liability for a dog, but once an owner knows their dog is prone to biting, the law shifts.

Why the Law Draws This Line

The difference reflects society’s expectations. We accept that domestic animals are generally safe to live with humans, though they can sometimes act unpredictably. But wild animals, by their very nature, pose serious risks, and these risks remain no matter how tame or “cute” the wild animals appear.

That’s why the law says: If you choose to keep a wild animal, you bear (pun fully intended!) the responsibility for whatever happens. The cuddliness of a fat bear doesn’t change its claws, its teeth, or its instincts.

So while you enjoy the fun of voting for your favorite plump brown bear, remember that a wild animal is never just a pet.