{"id":12308,"date":"2024-10-23T13:12:34","date_gmt":"2024-10-23T19:12:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.yellowstonegate.com\/?p=12308"},"modified":"2024-10-23T13:27:34","modified_gmt":"2024-10-23T19:27:34","slug":"famous-grizzly-bear-399-killed-in-vehicle-collision","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yellowstonegate.com\/?p=12308","title":{"rendered":"Famous grizzly bear 399 killed in vehicle collision"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
Cars clog the highway in Grand Teton National Park as visitors jockey for a glimpse of Bear 399, a female grizzly famous for her prodigious breeding and raising multiple cubs across several years. (Yellowstone Gate File Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A beloved female grizzly bear that has captivated crowds around Grand Teton National Park for years was struck and killed in a vehicle collision on Tuesday, according to a statement released by the park’s public affairs office. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arguably the world’s most famous bear, known as 399 for the number assigned her by researchers, she was hit by a vehicle on Highway 26\/89 in Snake River Canyon, south of Jackson, Wyo. The bear’s identity was confirmed through ear tags and a microchip.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grizzly bear 399 had a yearling cub with her, whose whereabouts are currently unknown. There is no evidence to suggest the yearling was also involved in the incident, but the National Park Service is monitoring the area.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bear 399 was a charismatic grizzly who was beloved for successfully raising cubs year after year, often giving birth to three or even four cubs. She was a common sight around Grand Teton, with cubs following close behind, stopping traffic and clogging roads wherever she sent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople from around the world have followed grizzly bear 399 for several decades. At 28 years old, she was the oldest known reproducing female grizzly bear in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem,\u201d said Hilary Cooley, Grizzly Bear Recovery Coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWildlife vehicle collisions and conflict are unfortunate. We are thankful the driver is okay and understand the community is saddened to hear that grizzly bear 399 has died,\u201d said Angi Bruce, Wyoming Game and Fish Department Director.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe grizzly bear is an iconic species that helps make the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem so extraordinary. Grizzly bear 399 has been perhaps the most prominent ambassador for the species. She has inspired countless visitors into conservation stewardship around the world and will be missed,\u201d said Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Calculating the economic impact of a single bear is difficult, if not impossible. But 399 helped build small fortunes for photographers and merchandisers around Jackson, and helped fill hotels, restaurants and gift shops for years. Her prodigious breeding efforts also helped fuel the ongoing recovery of grizzlies throughout the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ironically, part of what was believed to be a survival strategy she used\u2014sticking close to roads and populated areas to avoid conflicts with male grizzlies seeking to kill her cubs\u2014may have contributed to her ultimate demise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team, 49 grizzly bears are known to have been killed between 2009-2023 as a result of vehicle collisions in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. \u00a0Bear 399 is the second grizzly killed by a vehicle this year in the region.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A beloved female grizzly bear that has captivated crowds around Grand Teton National Park for years was struck and killed in a vehicle collision on Tuesday, according to a statement released by the park’s public affairs office. Arguably the world’s most famous bear, known as 399 for the number assigned her by researchers, she was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":12313,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-feature.php","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_show_updated_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[313,9],"tags":[1536,1537,128],"yoast_head":"\nFamous grizzly bear 399 killed in vehicle collision - Yellowstone Gate<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yellowstonegate.com\/?p=12308\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Famous grizzly bear 399 killed in vehicle collision - Yellowstone Gate\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A beloved female grizzly bear that has captivated crowds around Grand Teton National Park for years was struck and killed in a vehicle collision on Tuesday, according to a statement released by the park’s public affairs office. 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