Remains of beloved grizzly bear returned to national park

JACKSON, Wyo. — The ashes of a popular grizzly bear were returned to her home in Grand Teton National Park, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said on Friday.

The remains of grizzly bear 399 were returned to the Pilgrim Creek area of the park, where she spent much of her life.

The National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said they will continue to find ways to honor the legacy of 399 through education and conservation efforts.

In October, grizzly 399 was struck and killed by a vehicle south of Grand Teton National Park. Law enforcement announced the driver was not speeding and the bear’s death was an accident.

“The bear stepped right out into the road,” Lincoln County Sheriff’s Patrol Lt. John Stetzenbach told the Jackson Hole News & Guide. The driver “was unable to brake in time to avoid the bear, and the collision occurred.”

He said the collision “truly was an accident” and that the driver was not speeding or distracted and was not cited. The Subaru that hit the bear had to be towed from the scene, Stetzenbach said.

The death of 399 in the Snake River Canyon south of Jackson saddened tourists, wildlife biologists and amateur and professional photographers who for years studied and captured images of the bear and her many cubs and followed her comings and goings on social media sites.

The grizzly bear had a yearling cub with her at the time of her death, but given the bear’s age and the time of year, park officials said it has a strong chance of surviving independently and there were no plans to capture it.

“Grizzly bear 399 captivated people around the world, inspiring many to learn about the conservation of this important species,” said Hilary Cooley, Grizzly Bear Recovery Coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “We received an outpouring of appreciation for 399 and aimed to honor these sentiments in handling her remains.”

“399 will always be part of this special place,” said Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins. “However, there is still work to do to ensure her descendants and all grizzly bears continue to thrive in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. It’s up to all of us to make sure they do.”

The popular bear was born in 1996 and captured the hearts of Grand Teton National Park visitors year after year.

Named for the identity tag attached to her ear by researchers, the grizzly was often seen near roads in Grand Teton, drawing crowds and creating traffic jams.

The 28-year-old grizzly bear was a true matriarch, with at least 18 offspring in her lifetime. Photographers spotted her with four cubs when she emerged from hibernation in 2020.

Biologists said grizzly 399 was the equivalent of a grandmother and great-grandmother. She was the oldest known reproducing female grizzly in the Yellowstone ecosystem.

After the grizzly population plummeted to fewer than 150 in the region, the bears made a comeback thanks to crackdowns on poaching, hunting and habitat protection. Today, at least 700 grizzlies inhabit the region.

Famous for the towering peaks of the Teton Range, Grand Teton National Park is a 310,000-acre park located in northwestern Wyoming. The rugged park is located 10 miles south of Yellowstone National Park.