By Jimmy Orr, Cowboy State Daily
If there is a bear more celebrated than 25-year-old Grizzly 399 (and her four cubs), we’re not aware of it.
So let the celebration begin, because 399 and her brood are awake and seem to be doing well.
Credit to our friends over at Mountain Journal for letting us know about it.
They report that 399 was spotted on Thursday morning in a couple unspecified locations but probably in or near Grand Teton National Park.
“They all appear well — though a bit thin — which is to be expected after a long winter slumber,” the journal writes.
The publication opined that some thought the bears wouldn’t emerge from hibernation for a couple more weeks.
But once they’re out, they’re out.
The last time Cowboy State Daily reported on 399 was on Jan. 5 when the Wyoming Game and Fish Department thought the bears had gone to their den for hibernation.
It was a little later than usual but that was because the family had stumbled on to many gut-piles in the area.
“Staying out a little longer for this high-protein food source has proven pretty productive for grizzly 399 and her offspring,” department spokesman Mark Gocke said.
399 dropped her radio collar years ago, so agencies have to rely on sightings to know where and how she is.
Although it’s exciting to know that 399 is back at it, we hope that she and her cubs are given plenty of space by curious observers.
