RIP Grizzly 399: 'Queen of the Grand Tetons' in Wyoming killed after being hit by vehicle

Grizzly 399, a beloved mama bear known as the queen of Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park, has died after being hit by a car, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service reports.

The 28-year-old brown grizzly bear was fatally struck by a vehicle in Snake River Canyon, just south of Jackson, Wyoming, in the dark of night at around 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday. She was identified through ear tags and a microchip.

Lincoln County Sheriff's Office Capt. Brian Andrews said a man driving in a Subaru hit Grizzly 399 on his way home from work. The driver called the Wyoming Game & Fish Department, who responded to the scene. Andrews said the driver will not face any charges and it will be treated like any other traffic accident involving game, like deer or elk.

Grizzly 399 had a yearling cub with her when she was struck, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The cub's whereabouts are unknown, and there is no evidence to suggest the yearling was also involved in the accident. The cub, known to online fans of Grizzly 399 as Spirit, was born in 2023, according to Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins.

“The grizzly bear is an iconic species that helps make the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem so extraordinary," Jenkins said in a news release. "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."

Grizzly 399 leaves a legacy

Born around 1996, Grizzly 399 was captured by Grand Teton National Park in 2001 for research purposes, Grand Teton National Park bear biologist Justin Schwabedissen said during a conference call held by the park on Wednesday afternoon.

Over the past 23 years, Grizzly 399 had eight litters − 18 known cubs in total, with the first litter reported in 2004. In 2020, Grizzly 399 had a four-cub litter. The typical grizzly bear litter size is two cubs, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

“People 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,” Hilary Cooley, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service grizzly bear recovery coordinator, said in a news release.

Joining Grand Teton National Park in 2011, Schwabedissen recalled a special memory with a guest who got to experience grizzlies for the first time.

"I remember one evening, a woman who had just retired, she'd spent 30-plus years working some factory floor in the Midwest and always dreamed of seeing a bear in the wild and visiting Grand Teton and Yellowstone," he said. "She was in tears that night from being able to have an opportunity to be here."

Grizzly 399 was documentary star

In February, Grizzly 399 was featured in her own PBS documentary, "Grizzly 399: Queen of the Tetons." The 53-minute documentary follows Grizzly 399 as she raises four new cubs. The documentary is available for streaming on PBS and Amazon Prime Video.

Wildlife and nature photographer Thomas Mangelsen is one of several interviewees featured in the documentary. At the time of Mangelsen's interview with PBS, he had been photographing Grizzly 399 for 15 years.

"399 has changed people's attitude towards grizzly bears," he says in the documentary. "And because of that, she will likely save bears from being delisted (from the Endangered Species List) and killed."

Tyler Brasington, a part of Grand Teton National Park's bear management, shared his love for Grizzly 399 on Facebook on Wednesday afternoon.

"Grizzly 399's story became intertwined with the very fabric of the park," Brasington wrote. "As one of the first visible and reproducing female grizzlies in the southern Grizzly Bear Recovery Area, she raised her cubs near roads, drawing crowds and awe from onlookers. I will never forget the many hours spent managing 'bear jams,' where hundreds would gather, their faces lit with excitement and wonder at the sight of her and her cubs."

'We've got more work to do'

According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, there have been 49 grizzly bear deaths due to vehicle collisions in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem between 2009 and 2023. This year alone, there have been two grizzly bear deaths, including Grizzly 399, from vehicle strikes in the ecosystem.

"We've got more work to do in this county, in this community, to make sure that we're able to co-exist successfully with the local bear population, whether that's grizzly bears or black bears," Schwabedissen said.

Bears who roam Grand Teton National Park are not limited to park property. Schwabedissen said these bears are "transboundary species," and cross over several parks in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and on private property.

When it comes to how residents can help, Schwabedissen cited bear-resistant trashcans and electric fencing to protect backyard livestock like chickens.

Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at Paste BN. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at gcross@gannett.com.