The famous grizzly bear, beloved by countless tourists, biologists and professional wildlife photographers for decades in Grand Teton National Park, has died after being hit by a car in western Wyoming.
Grizzly Bear 399 died Tuesday night on the Snake River Canyon Highway south of Jackson, park officials said in a statement Wednesday.
At least 28 years old, the bear is the oldest known breeding female grizzly in the Yellowstone ecosystem. Every spring, wildlife enthusiasts waited for her to emerge from her burrow to see how many babies she had given birth to over the winter.
Named after the identification tag placed in her ear by researchers, she surprised everyone by continuing to reproduce into her old age. Unlike many grizzly bears, she was frequently sighted near roads in Grand Teton, causing crowds and traffic jams. Scientists speculate that this behavior may have kept the male grizzly bears away, making them less of a threat to the cubs. Some people believe that male grizzlies kill their cubs to bring the mother into heat.
The statement said a one-year-old cub was with the bear at the time of the attack and did not appear to be injured, but the cub's whereabouts are unknown.
The driver was uninjured. Further details about the crash were not immediately released.
“Wild animal vehicle collisions and conflicts are unfortunate. We are grateful the driver is safe and understand the community is saddened to hear of the death of grizzly bear 399.” Game and Fish Department Director Angi Bruce said in a statement.
News of Grizzly No. 399's death quickly spread on Facebook pages that track bears and other wildlife in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. More than 1,000 people quickly posted comments calling her a queen, a legend, and an ambassador for grizzly bears. They were heartbroken and devastated by her death, calling it a tragic loss. Many people expressed concern for her baby.
Andrea Zaccardi, the Center for Biological Diversity's carnivore legal director, said in a statement that the center was devastated by the bear's death.
“She was an icon in Yellowstone who raised more than 20 cubs and a large bear cub, and the grizzly bear population will undoubtedly suffer her loss. A tragedy like this makes us wonder why… “This highlights why we need to do more to maintain federal protections for bears and keep them safe from cars and other threats,” she said.
Many consider the Yellowstone region's grizzly bears to be a conservation success story. Although they remain protected under the Endangered Species Act, their numbers have increased tenfold since the 1970s, reaching up to 1,000 individuals.
As population growth increases encounters with humans and livestock, bears often stand to lose. Hunters sometimes mistake grizzlies for black bears, which can be legally hunted, or kill grizzlies in self-defense. Wildlife managers also often kill grizzly bears that prey on cattle and sheep.
