March Napness 2025
The annual sleepiest bear competition returns!
May the sleepiest bear win!
Welcome to the 3rd annual March Napness Competition! This celebration of hibernation features bears who were rescued by FOUR PAWS and now live in a species-appropriate environment at our bear sanctuaries throughout Europe. Inspired by March Madness, the NCAA college basketball tournament, March Napness is a bracket-style tournament where hibernating bears “compete” to see who will remain in hibernation the longest. The sleepiest bear wins!
Meet our 2025 Competitors
BEAR SANCTUARY Arbesbach, Austria
Brumca
Sleepy Stats: In 2024, Brumca awoke the first week of March
One of the first bears rescued at Arbesbach, Brumca is known as 'The Queen'. She will often refuse to eat food that is cut or placed in the wrong location--a true diva!
Erich
Sleepy Stats: In 2024, Erich awoke the first week of March
Erich is the biggest bear in Arbesbach but not the bravest. He runs away from helicopters, loud noises, construction workers, flies, or for no clear reason at all.
Mark
Sleepy Stats: Last winter, Mark truly hibernated for the first time, and immediately rested for 107 days!
Although cuddling is definitely not an option, because of his cute looks, Mark fully deserves his nickname 'Teddy Bear.'
Arosa Bear Sanctuary, Switzerland
Amelia
Sleepy Stats: In 2024, she awoke the week of March 26
Amelia is known as a bright and curious bear. She lives with Meimo, and you can check out their live web cam here.
Meimo
Sleepy Stats: In 2024, he awoke the week of March 26
Meimo is a quiet, shy bear, who is known for being nocturnal. He shares an enclosure with Amelia. Check out their web cam.
Sam
Sleepy Stats: In 2024, Sam made it to the March Napness finals along with sister Jamila.
Sam hibernated for the first time in his life in 2023, a year after his rescue. Check out his live web cam.
Jamila
Sleepy Stats: In 2024, Jamila made it to the March Napness finals along with brother Sam.
Like Sam, she also hibernated for the first time in 2023. Check out her live web cam.
BEAR SANCTUARY Belitsa, Bulgaria
Iva
Sleepy Stats: This is Iva's rookie year competing in the competition.
Iva is the youngest bear at Belitsa and the youngest bear competing in this year's March Napness. She lives with fellow competitor Jeta, as well as Teddy and Riku.
Suzana
Sleepy Stats: In 2023, Suzana awoke the week of March 14.
Suzana is a very curious bear who can be a bit camera shy. She loves plums, apricots, and cherries.
Jeta
Sleepy Stats: In 2024, Jeta made it to the semi-finals.
Jeta enjoys the company of her friends Riku, Teddy, and fellow March Napness competitor, Iva.
Svetla
Sleepy Stats: In 2023, Svetla slept the longest of any bear at Belitsa. Last year, she awoke the week of April 2.
Svetla is the oldest bear at Belitsa and the oldest bear competing in March Napness this year.
BEAR SANCTUARY Domazhyr, Ukraine
Tyson
Sleepy Stats: Last year, Tyson made it to the March Napness Finals!
Two years ago, Tyson's friend Mashutka dug her own den, then lazy Tyson took her den and spent the winter there!
Frankie
Sleepy Stats: In 2024, Frankie awoke the week of March 26.
Frankie is a very gentle bear. He lives together with Anya, and they are the most playful couple at the sanctuary.
Masha
Sleepy Stats: Last year, Masha slept her way into the semi-finals!
Masha is quite a curious bear! She lives with her friend, Potap, and always likes to know what is going on around her.
Julia
Sleepy Stats: In 2024, she slept until the week of March 26.
Julia is a very careful bear, who loves all the toys and enrichments that our caretakers prepare for her.
BEAR SANCTUARY Müritz, Germany
Mascha
Sleepy Stats: Winner of March Napness 2023
Last year, hibernated until the end of March
Mascha can be quite dominant towards other bears, but is otherwise a very unhurried bear.
Michal
Sleepy Stats: In 2024, he awoke during week of March 26
Michal is curious, playful, open-minded and very people-oriented.
Rocco
Sleepy Stats: In 2024, he awoke in mid-March.
Rocco is a very active, rambunctious bear that loves playing with enrichments, tree trunks, and anything he can find in his enclosure.
Ida
Sleepy Stats: In 2024, Ida woke up in mid-March.
Ida is known as a stubborn bear that appreciates her solitude and has a lot of tenacity.
BEAR SANCTUARY Prishtina, Kosovo
Mira
Sleepy Stats: Last year, Mira slept 121 days, longer than any other bear at Prishtina.
Mira is a quiet, good-natured bear who is the largest female at the sanctuary at 440 lbs!
Tomi
Sleepy Stats: Tomi is a wildcard! We look forward to tracking his sleep this season.
Tomi enjoys exploring, swimming in the pool, and playing with enrichments provided by the staff.
Hana
Sleepy Stats: In 2024, Hana awoke the first week of April.
Hana is known as a confident bear. She shares her enclosure with two males, Anik & Mal, and she has no problem standing up to them!
Mal
Sleepy Stats: Another wildcard! We'll see how long Mal sleeps this year.
Mal lives with bear Anik and fellow competitor Hana. He enjoys being sprayed with a hose on hot days!
How to Participate
Join our March Napness 2025 Bracket Challenge! We invite you to play along and fill in your own March Napness bracket. Read about our bear contestants, and predict which bears you think will hibernate the longest at each sanctuary, and who you think will take home the ultimate sleepy crown!
You can download your own bracket here or download the printable version.
Be sure to follow us on social media for the latest March Napness updates and extended coverage of all our bear competitors.
Latest Updates
All the bears are currently sleeping peacefully in their dens. The March Napness Competition officially begins in March.
We will be sharing our first bracket update on March 4!
FOUR PAWS Countries Where You Can Donate
March Napness Media Kit
Interested in covering our March Napness competition? Download the Media Kit and get in touch!