Grand Teton National Park’s beloved grizzly bear, known as No. 399, has been adored by numerous visitors, biologists, and professional wildlife photographers. However, earlier this week, it tragically met its demise in a car collision in western Wyoming.
Park officials stated in a Wednesday announcement that No. 399 was found dead on a road in the Snake River Canyon south of Jackson on Tuesday night, with the driver escaping injury. A one-year-old cub was with her at the time of the impact, believed to be unharmed but currently missing. The cause of the incident remains unclear.
According to the Associated Press, No. 399 was 28 years old and the oldest known reproducing female grizzly bear in the Yellowstone ecosystem. Every spring, wildlife enthusiasts eagerly awaited her emergence from hibernation to see how many cubs she had birthed over the winter, quickly sharing the news online.
Tour guides Jack and Gina Bayles noted that the bear’s Facebook page had fans worldwide.
Grizzly bear biologist Justin Schwabedissen recalled that at times, hundreds of visitors would gather on the grassy fields just to catch a glimpse of her.
Schwabedissen mentioned that for some young people, “seeing a bear out there, seeing a cub frolicking in the wildflowers – it’s probably the coolest thing on Earth.”
News of No. 399’s death spread rapidly on social media. By late Wednesday, over 2,000 comments had been posted, referring to the bear as the “queen,” an “idol,” and an “incredible species ambassador.”
What amazed many about this bear was her ongoing ability to reproduce despite her age. She broke the record for the oldest known wild grizzly bear to give birth at 27. Unlike many grizzlies, she frequently roamed near roads in Grand Teton, attracting crowds and causing traffic jams. Scientists speculated that this behavior helped keep male bears at a distance to prevent them from posing a threat to the cubs. Some believed male bears would kill the cubs to bring the mother into estrus.
She had given birth to at least 18 cubs from eight litters, including a litter of four in 2020. Standing around 7 feet tall and weighing approximately 400 pounds, she was a remarkable sight.
Her death has left many heartbroken and saddened, considered a tragic loss.
Wyoming Game and Fish Department Director Angi Bruce expressed regret in a statement, saying, “Wildlife vehicle collisions and conflicts are unfortunate. We are grateful the driver was unharmed and understand the community’s sadness over the loss of No. 399.”
At one time, there were about 50,000 grizzly bears in the western United States. Now, they are limited to regions outside Alaska, with populations in the Yellowstone area and a few small areas in the northern Rocky Mountains. By 1975, when they were first listed as endangered, the Yellowstone grizzly bear population had dwindled to just over 100.
Currently, the area encompassing Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, as well as surrounding regions of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, is home to around 1,000 grizzly bears. Despite federal protections, recent years have seen them delisted and relisted as an endangered species amid ongoing political and court battles.
Data collected and released by the park show an average of about three grizzly bears per year being killed in vehicle collisions in the region, with 51 dying in such incidents since 2009. This year, No. 399 was the second bear in the area to be killed in such a collision.