The long reign of the “Queen of the Tetons” came to an end late Tuesday, when Grizzly 399 was struck and killed by a vehicle south of Jackson – leaving her fanbase shocked and heartbroken.
“Horrible news. She made it all the way to 28, only to get killed by a car. It'll take time to realize she won't be showing up at Pilgrim any longer,” renowned Wyoming wildlife photographer Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven told Cowboy State Daily on Wednesday.
The loss of Grizzly 399 is unfathomable, said Jack Bayles of Team 399, which for years provided updates, photos and videos for the bear’s worldwide social media fanbase.
“The loss of any bear is tragic,” he told Cowboy Sate Daily. “This is awful.”
For many people around the country and the world, Grizzly 399 was much more than just a bear, Bayles said.
“We’ve been in contact with people who have told us that, following the story 399 the year that Covid hit, that’s what got them through that year,” he said.
‘Mother Nature’s Tears’
This year turned out to be an emotional pendulum for wildlife photographer and tour guide Ryan Kempfer of Jackson.
It started out with wonder and joy this spring, when he got the year’s first known video footage of 399 and her “gorgeous” cub, Spirit.
He and his wife were on vacation in Yellowstone National Park on Wednesday. They were out of cell service most of the day, unaware of what had happened to the beloved bear that they’ve followed for years.
But when they finally got service and learned the news, they were devastated.
“I’m looking at a waterfall right now, and all I can think of is, it’s mother nature’s tears,” he told Cowboy State Daily during a telephone interview from Yellowstone.
The influence 399 had, and the worldwide awareness she brought to Wyoming’s grizzlies, can’t be overstated, Kempfer said.
“It’s hit home in a rough way, for everybody who has been touched by 399,” he said. “The last thing anybody wanted to see was such a tragic way for her to have been killed.”
While recognizing that 399 was a wild animal, it was nearly impossible to not be drawn in by her charisma, he said.
“You try not to let your human emotions get involved when watching these bears. Well, good luck with that,” Kempfer said.
What Happened?
Lincoln County Sheriff Captain Brian Andrews said the collision happened at around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday night on Highway 26/89 and was ruled an accident with no tickets issued.
Andrews said the driver of the Subaru that hit the bear didn't see 399 until it was too late in the dark.
"It was not criminal," Andrews said. "It was just one of those types of things but it's unfortunate because the bear was hit."
The crash happened in Lincoln County at milepost 126, which is on the southern end of the Snake River Canyon, a good distance away from 399's traditional territory in Grand Teton National Park and the Jackson area.
"It was surprising to see," Andrews said.
Andrews said there was major damage to the front end of the vehicle and believes it was towed off.
He said Wyoming Game and Fish handled everything involving the bear at the accident, including identifying it and taking it into custody.
Andrews said it's rare for bears to get hit by vehicles in Lincoln County, with 399's death being the first in at least 15-20 years.
Grieving In Wyoming And Beyond
Noted Wyoming outdoorsman Paul Ulrich of Pinedale summed up the affection and pride Wyomingites felt for the world’s most famous bear.
"399 was an icon, a legendary example of the true force and beauty of nature,” he told Cowboy State Daily.
"She was a true Wyoming gal demonstrating strength, intelligence and a fierce loyalty to her offspring.” Ulrich added. “She will be missed.”
Jackson resident Lisa Robertson was stunned to learn that the iconic bear was gone. She said she still can picture Grizzly 399 walking down the road past her house.
For Jackson locals, Grizzly 399 and the various cubs she raised over the years became part of what defined the community, Robertson said.
“How do we find the words to express how we feel about the loss of such a magnificent and rare personality? I have known her since she made Grand Teton National Park and surrounding areas her home,” she said.
“She allowed us, and seemed to invite us at times, to share her world, and it was a priceless privilege. It was one of the highest privileges of my life and I will be forever grateful. RIP 399! Forever loved,” Robertson said.
Wildlife enthusiast Cindy Shaffer of West Yellowstone, Montana, booked a room in Jackson this weekend, hoping to catch a glimpse of 399 and her gigantic yearling cub, Spirit, before they went into hibernation.
Spirit was apparently at the site of the accident on Tuesday, but wasn’t injured, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The cub’s whereabout remained unknown on Wednesday.
“She was the most beautiful grizzly and the best mother. One of the first grizzlies that I had ever seen in the wild. She is known and loved around the world. This beautiful bear will never be forgotten. My heart is broken,” Shaffer said.
“She will live on in our hearts and souls. I am praying that her cub is found safely,” she added.
Roadside Celebrity
The collision on Tuesday that killed Grizzly 399 was the terrible realization of a fear that had long haunted her fanbase. An abiding worry that someday, she or her cubs might be struck by vehicles.
It was 399’s high visibility that made her famous. Over the years she developed the habit of taking her cubs down near highways. She and her cubs frequently crossed busy roadways, while admiring throngs gawked and took photos and video.
Bear biologists surmised that she deliberately took her cubs to crowded areas to protect them from large male grizzlies. Male bears are known to kill cubs that aren’t theirs, so they can in turn impregnate the mother with their own cubs.
Cowboy State Daily Reporter Leo Wolfson contributed to this report.
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
