Grizzly 399 facts for kids

Grizzly 399 with her four cubs in June 2020, near Signal Mountain Lodge.

Grizzly 399 (born 1996 – died October 22, 2024) was a famous female grizzly bear who lived in Grand Teton National Park and Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming. Many people, including wildlife photographers and tourists, traveled to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem to see her and other grizzly bears. She was so well-known that she even had social media accounts!

About Grizzly Bears

Grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) are a type of brown bear found in North America. Years ago, grizzly bears were in danger of disappearing because their numbers were dropping very quickly.

Thanks to protection under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, their population has grown. Today, there are about 2,000 grizzly bears in the United States, not including Alaska. About half of these bears live in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Even though grizzlies are sometimes seen as scary, they usually avoid people. They only attack if they feel threatened or need to protect themselves.

Grizzly 399's Life

Grizzly 399 lived on federal land, roaming hundreds of miles across Grand Teton National Park and the Bridger-Teton National Forest. She was born in a den in Pilgrim Creek, Wyoming, during the winter of 1996.

In 2001, scientists fitted her with a radio-collar. This was part of a long-term research project to track bears. She was the 399th bear they started tracking this way. By 2018, they stopped using the radio-collar because she lived in an area where she was easy to observe.

Grizzly 399 lived longer than most grizzlies, reaching 21 years old. Sadly, more than 85 percent of grizzlies die because of human activities before they get old. She weighed about 180 kilograms (400 pounds). When she stood on her back legs, she was about 2.1 meters (7 feet) tall.

Unlike most grizzlies, she lived close to humans but wasn't bothered by them. Scientists think she might have done this to keep her cubs safe, as one cub died in a more remote area. She never harmed a human, even after a few close encounters. This helped her avoid being killed by people.

Raising Cubs

Grizzly 399 was a very successful mother, raising 22 cubs and many grandcubs. In May 2020, she was seen with four new cubs born that winter. This was her largest group of cubs at one time.

She taught her cubs how to live safely near humans. For example, she taught them to look both ways before crossing roads to avoid cars. She also taught them to find abandoned elk remains during hunting season.

Despite her efforts, at least three of her cubs died because of human encounters. This included her only cub from 2016, nicknamed 'Snowy' because of his light-colored face. Overall, she lost half of her descendants due to encounters with people or male bears.

On May 16, 2023, Grizzly 399 came out of hibernation with a single cub. At 26 or 27 years old, she became the oldest female bear to have cubs in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Her Triplets

Grizzly 399 often gave birth to three cubs (triplets) instead of the usual two (twins). Raising three cubs takes a lot more energy for a mother bear. This can sometimes make it harder for the cubs to survive. However, Grizzly 399 was very good at raising triplets.

One of her triplets, named Grizzly 610, also became a successful mother. In 2011, Grizzly 610 had twins, while Grizzly 399 had another set of triplets. Scientists were worried about Grizzly 399 because of her age. But to their surprise, Grizzly 610 kindly adopted one of her mother's triplets!

Other Descendants

One of Grizzly 399's twins from 2017, named 964, was moved to Yellowstone National Park in 2019. She was seen with her own twins in 2023. Grizzly 610's daughter, named 926, also had twins in 2023.

Grizzly 399 and Humans

Grizzly 399 became used to people when she was near roads and developed areas. A researcher believed she chose these roadside areas because they were safer for her cubs. Male bears often try to kill cubs in more remote areas.

Her choice to stay near roads also made her very popular. In 2011, seeing Grizzly 399 and her three cubs near a road in Grand Teton National Park caused traffic to stop for miles. Near Jackson Lake Lodge, she taught her cubs how to hunt elk calves. She did this where guests at the lodge could watch.

Grizzly 399 was often seen along the roadside near the Oxbow Bend of the Snake River. By 2015, about 40 to 50 photographers were following her. She was known as the "grand matriarch" (a respected older female) of the park’s roadside bears.

On May 10, 2016, Grizzly 399 came out of hibernation with one cub. In 2017, she was older than most brown bears are when they have cubs. On May 16, 2017, she was seen with two cubs during a spring snowstorm.

Her Death

On the evening of October 22, 2024, Grizzly 399 was hit by a vehicle. This happened on Highway 26/89 in Snake River Canyon, south of Jackson, Wyoming. Her identity was confirmed using ear tags and a microchip.

Grizzly 399 had a cub with her, who was about a year old. The cub's location is currently unknown. There is no sign that the cub was also hit, but the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is watching the area.

Grand Teton Wildlife Brigade

The Grand Teton Wildlife Brigade was created in 2007. It was formed because so many visitors came to Grand Teton to see Grizzly 399 and her cubs. The Brigade's job is to keep both animals and people safe.

In 2011, ranger Kate Wilmot, a "bear management specialist," said things had become "completely chaotic." She explained that the real job was managing how people behaved. This was partly because social media made the bears more popular, drawing more people who wanted to get close to them.

Wilmot leads 16 volunteers in the Brigade during the summer. These "brigaders" carry bear spray, but their main role is to remind tourists to stay at least 90 meters (100 yards) away from bears. This rule was set after incidents involving Grizzly 610, Grizzly 399's daughter.

It is against the law to feed bears. The brigaders also deal with this issue. Feeding bears can make them too comfortable around people and sometimes aggressive. The brigaders remind tourists of their part in keeping bears wild and safe. Their success is shown by how few serious incidents and bear removals happen.

Grizzly mothers are known for being very protective of their cubs. In 2011, in Yellowstone National Park, a mother bear fatally injured a hiker who got too close. Grizzly 610, Grizzly 399's daughter, twice "charged" (ran quickly towards) tourists who came too close. No injuries were reported in those cases.

Protecting Grizzlies

In 2017, officials removed grizzly bears from the endangered species list. This meant that the management of grizzlies outside Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks was given to Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Grizzlies travel over hundreds of miles, sometimes leaving the parks where hunting is allowed. Grizzly 399 often denned (slept for winter) outside the parks.

There was concern that hunters might target Grizzly 399 because she was so famous. A wildlife photographer, Daryl Hunter, heard a hunter say they wanted Grizzly 399's "rug on his wall" because her fame would make her a better trophy.

For the 2018 hunting season, Montana decided not to allow hunting. Idaho, which had fewer grizzlies, allowed hunting of only one bear. Wyoming decided by a vote to allow 22 grizzlies to be hunted. This would have been the first authorized hunt in Wyoming in 44 years.

Many people were upset about Wyoming's plan. Five women in Jackson Hole quickly started a group called "Shoot'em With A Camera-Not A Gun." They encouraged people who opposed hunting to apply for hunting permits. This way, fewer permits would go to actual hunters. About 7,000 people applied for permits, including famous wildlife photographer Thomas D. Mangelsen and scientist Jane Goodall.

In July 2018, a federal judge in Montana put grizzly bears back on the endangered species list. This protected all the bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem again. The judge said that officials had made a mistake when they removed the bears' protection. In July 2020, a higher court supported this ruling.

In March 2021, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decided that grizzly bears in the lower 48 states should remain protected. They are still considered threatened under the Endangered Species Act after a five-year review.

See also

• List of individual bears