BOSTON, MA – MARCH  2025. FOUR PAWS is half-way through its annual March Napness competition and already there has been early exits, upsets, and surprise sleepers.

Inspired by March Madness, March Napness is a bracket-style competition where rescued hibernating bears compete to see who will remain sleeping the longest this spring. The sleepiest bear wins the title The Champion of Slumber, the Winner of Winter Sleep, the King or Queen of the Couch, the Best of the Rest, the Victor of the Zs, the Leader in Lounge, or 2025’s “Sleepiest Bear!”.

This celebration of hibernation features bears who were rescued by FOUR PAWS, the global animal welfare organization, that houses over 135 bears in seven sanctuaries across the globe. The bears were rescued from inappropriate and inadequate conditions. Sadly, these bears cannot be returned to the wild; however, at the sanctuaries they are given species-appropriate conditions and expert veterinary care to live out the rest of their lives in peace.

The idea of March Napness emerged three years ago as an engagement tool and a way to share FOUR PAWS rescue stories. 

March Napness serves to highlight FOUR PAWS’ efforts to rescue and protect the world’s “saddest bears.” A large demand for bears in captivity exists globally for their use in bear baiting and hunting, dancing bear performances, and other tourist attractions, petting or hands-on exhibits among many other cruelties.

“Most of these bears have seen the worst conditions captivity has to offer,” LaFrance continued, “Now we are showing them for the champions they are in a positive and hopeful way. Our sleepy bear competition is the zzzen we all need right now!”.

Once such March Napness 2025 competitor is bear Mark who spent over 20 years in a small concrete cage. He was used as a tourist attraction, on the side of a restaurant in Albania: A once-common practice where wild-caught or captive-bred bears are used as entertainment often fed too much or too little human food. Rescued by FOUR PAWS in 2022, bear Mark’s story served as a turning point for bears in captivity in Albania as he was the last remaining “restaurant bear”. Now, Mark lives out his days at FOUR PAWS’ BEAR SANCTUARY Arbesbach in Austria where he can experience fresh air, grass under foot, and swim in his own pool. With his adorable expressions, Mark has earned the nickname 'Teddy Bear.' But don't be fooled by his fluffy appearance—FOUR PAWS reminds you that Mark is a fierce competitor in March Napness 2025.

Everyone is encouraged to follow along, fill out their brackets, and participate in our social activities throughout the months of March and April. Each week in March and April, FOUR PAWS announces which bears have woken up on their website and their social channels (@fourpaws.usa) until the last sleeping bear awakens to their title.