Garth Brooks To Narrate TV Show About Grand Teton National Park And Grizzly 399 This Week

The first episode of National Geographic's second season of "America's National Parks" will focus on Grand Teton National Park and Grizzly 399. Garth Brooks is the executive producer and narrator of the series, which debuts this week.

JO
Jimmy Orr

June 05, 20232 min read

Grizzly 399 and her 2023 cub were spotted for the first time in 2023 on May 16. (Photo is owned by Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven and may not be reproduced)
Grizzly 399 and her 2023 cub were spotted for the first time in 2023 on May 16. (Photo is owned by Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven and may not be reproduced) (Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven)

In case you don’t feel like there’s been enough attention on Grizzly 399 lately, here’s some more, but this information has a twist: Garth Brooks is involved.

The country music singer is narrating season two of National Geographic’s "America’s National Parks" series, and Grand Teton National Park is the focus of the first episode.

Grizzly 399, and her new cub, of course live in the park, and if the trailer is any indication, she seems to be centerpiece of the first episode as it encompasses the entirety of the minute-plus preview video.

“The most famous bear in North America. Meet 399. This is no ordinary bear. At 26 years old. She's the grandmother of Grand Teton,” Brooks says in promotional video.

Brooks, also an executive producer of the series, takes visitors to Biscayne National Park, the Channel Islands, Lake Clark National Park and Voyageurs National Park.

The series kicks off Monday on the National Geographic channel while the entire season can be streamed on Disney+ beginning Wednesday.

Noted Wyoming outdoorsman Paul Ulrich said it makes sense to focus on Grizzly 399, but ultimately would not provide much clarity on the bear or where she lived.

“Many tourists don’t understand our park system,” Ulrich said. “They think it’s a place where you can pet animals or put a saddle on a moose and go out for a ride.”

Ulrich said he was in Yellowstone two weeks ago and one tourist asked him where 399 was "penned."

“I had to explain to this German couple that 399 lived in Grand Teton National Park, not Yellowstone, and she is a free roaming bear. They actually thought she was in a zoo,” he said.

Ulrich said they were disappointed they wouldn’t have the opportunity to feed the famous bear.

“It’s a miracle there aren’t more fatalities in our national parks,” Ulrich said. 

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Jimmy Orr

Executive Editor

A third-generation Wyomingite, Jimmy Orr is the executive editor and co-founder of Cowboy State Daily.