Starting Wednesday, fans can vote in the annual Appalachian Bear Rescue ‘Chubby Cubby Chonk Down’ [Video]

TOWNSEND, Tenn. — A unique East Tennessee tradition is returning Wednesday — the Chubby Cubby Chonk Down.

Every year, Appalachian Bear Rescue releases a bracket of different cubs that it cares for, and this year the bracket is “chonky.” It has 28 names, coupled with pictures of the nonprofit’s different residents. The nonprofit’s newest residents, Rags and Scruffy, face literal acorns in their first matchups — giving them a chance to advance before facing real opponents.

The competition is meant to mark the start of the bears’ natural denning period. While in the wild at around this time, bears would start feasting on any food they can find in order to build up fat reserves before they start hibernating.

Starting Wednesday, Appalachian Bear Rescue will …