Lifestyle Pets Rescue Bear Hibernating for His First Full Winter Hopes to Win Sleepiest Bear Contest Mark the bear, who used to live at a restaurant in Albania, is competing in his first March Napness competition with FOUR PAWS By Kelli Bender Kelli Bender Kelli Bender is the Pets Editor at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2013. Her work has previously appeared on MTV, The Frisky, Vice, and Best Friends Magazine. People Editorial Guidelines Published on February 28, 2024 11:54AM EST Close Mark, a bear competing in FOUR PAWS' 2nd Annual March Napness bracket competition. Photo: Courtesy of FOUR PAWS While basketball fans prepare for March Madness, rescue bears are indulging in March Napness. Once again, animal welfare organization FOUR PAWS is searching for the world's sleepiest bear with its 2nd Annual March Napness bracket competition. This year's contest is a (bed)head-to-head battle to see who can stay in hibernation the longest. The players are 23 rescue bears residing at six FOUR PAWS sanctuaries across the globe. The animal athletes in this relaxing competition are currently hibernating after entering their dens late last year. The bear to wake up and emerge from their den last will win March Napness and earn the title of the Sleepiest Bear of 2024. Starting March 1, fans can join FOUR PAWS in keeping track of the bears that wake up and drop out of the competition. The organization will provide weekly updates on social media on which of the 23 bears ended their hibernation period and chance at the Sleepiest Bear title. Among the bears hibernating for the win this year is Mark, a rookie to the competition and hibernation. Mark, estimated to be about 26, spent most of his life as a "restaurant bear" in Albania, according to FOUR PAWS, which means the animal was kept in a small kennel next to a restaurant to attract customers. Unusually Tiny 15-Pound Bear Cub Found in Arizona Suburb and Now Residing at the Bearizona Wildlife Park Life in a cage on a concrete floor prevented Mark from enjoying natural bear behaviors like foraging for food and hibernation. Thankfully, in December 2022, Mark was rescued from his life as a restaurant attraction by FOUR PAWS, which moved the animal to Bear Sanctuary Arbesbach in Austria. Mark the Bear. Courtesy of FOUR PAWS His rescuers were unsure if Mark would hibernate at the sanctuary after spending his life enduring unnatural conditions and poor nutrition. But once Mark moved into the wide-open outdoor space of the sanctuary, where he had room to explore and be a bear, the animal surprised his caretakers. In late 2023, Mark entered his den and stayed there for his first full hibernation. Bear Who Spent Her Life in 'Inhumane and Unhygienic' Cage Enjoys the Outdoors for the First Time The move has made Mark eligible to win the Sleepiest Bear title, which went to Bear Mascha of Sanctuary Muritz in Germany in 2023. Fans who think Mark has enough commitment to sleep to win the competition can place him in the champion position in the interactive bracket available through FOUR PAWS. Mark the Bear at FOUR PAWS' Bear Sanctuary Arbesbach in Austria. Courtesy of FOUR PAWS The organization said that fans can expect March Napness to extend into mid to late April. The last bear to come out of hibernation and greet warmer weather will win. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. To learn more about the March Napness competition and how to follow along, visit FOUR PAWS' website.