There was a collective sigh of relief when Wyoming’s favorite bear, Grizzly 399, finally emerged from her hibernation den this week with a new cub.
Now comes the difficult part. What to name the cub?
Social media threads were abuzz with name suggestions this week, but as of Friday, 399’s adoring throngs had yet to settle on one.
Wildlife photographer Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven was one of the first to spot 399 and the cub – whose sex remains undetermined – on Tuesday afternoon in Teton Park.
There’s been considerable buzz that the cub should be called “Miracle,” he told Cowboy State Daily early Friday. That might be fitting. It could be regarded as a miracle that at age 27, 399 is still alive and healthy, much less raising a new cub.
‘Rascally Little Beastie’
However, the moniker “Rowdy” was gaining some traction as well, wildlife photographer Savannah Rose of Jackson told Cowboy State Daily, adding that she and a friend came up with that suggestion.
It fits the cub’s personality, she said.
“It’s a very rascally little beastie. Loves to play with mom,” she said.
As much as she favors “Rowdy,” Rose said that “Spice” has been another popular suggestion.
That would be a homage to “Pepper,” a deceased cub of another famous Grizzly, Felicia, Rose said.
What About ‘Tuxedo’?
Another avid 399 follower, photographer and videographer Jack Bayles also noted on his Facebook page that the new cub seems extremely energetic and playful.
Some people commenting on his posts had their own name suggestions.
“I think we should name that cub Tuxedo because of the fancy white collar,” Stephen Velasco commented, in reference to a distinctive white marking on the cub’s chest and throat.
However, others noted that the marking could fade, and possibly disappear, as the cub ages.
“Pearl” has come up on several social media postings as another popular choice, others noted.
Do We Go With Dignified, or Cute?
Name suggestions seemed to be falling into two basic categories, Rose said.
“I think there are two schools of thought for the naming,” she said. “Some people like dignified or serious names, and others like the cuter ones.”
It’s not known whether the cub will get an official number, like its mother, Vangoidtsenhoven said.
The numbered IDs are assigned by researchers from the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST), which monitors bruins across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. Messages left for the IGBST weren’t returned on Friday.
Could Be The Last Offspring
Rose noted that the cub is not only energetic, but also seems exceptionally large, and 399 continues to look healthy and robust.
That’s impressive, because 399 is on the elderly end of the grizzly age scale – and is likely the oldest-ever grizzly momma.
The cub could be her last. It takes two years for young grizzlies to reached independence. By then, 399 will be 29, the age at which female grizzlies typically lose the ability to reproduce, Vangoidtsenhoven noted.
During her long and closely-observed life, 399 has frequently given birth to litters of multiple cubs. Her last brood, born in 2020, were quadruplets.
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com
