Wildlife photographer Kelly Ogilvie learned that Grizzly 399 was dead Wednesday afternoon. After the initial shock wore off, there was only one thing on her mind — the status and location of Grizzly 399’s body.
Grizzly 399 became a superstar during her unprecedented 28-year life in Grand Teton National Park. The international acclaim and emotional investment in the grizzly, who died after being hit by a vehicle on Highway 26/89 in the Snake River Canyon on Tuesday night, won’t end with her death.
“This is a situation like no other in the history of grizzlies in the United States,” Ogilvie told Cowboy State Daily. “Grizzly 399 is admired by so many people across the globe. She would have been 29 years old, so her longevity and the joy she brought so many people over so many years is unprecedented.”
Because of her status as the most popular bear in the world, the disposition of 399’s body matters to many people like Ogilvie.
“We need to ensure that her body is protected and preserved with awe, dignity, memory, and the legacy she brought to the grizzly bears,” Ogilvie said.
Where Is She?
Ogilvie said she called Hilary Cooley, the grizzly bear recovery coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) on Wednesday afternoon. She was somewhat surprised when, 30 minutes later, Cooley called her back.
According to Ogilvie, Cooley said that Grizzly 399’s body had been recovered “in decent shape.”
“That was probably her way of saying they were able to recover it in one piece,” Ogilvie said. “The body is all together.”
Cooley wouldn’t say where Grizzly 399’s body was being kept but told Ogilvie that “an enforcement officer has it in a decent place.”
“That’s a direct quote,” Ogilvie said. “That’s exactly what Cooley said.”
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed with Cowboy State Daily in a Thursday email that it “currently has possession of #399’s remains and is in the early stages of determining the next steps.”
After confirming the bear involved was 399, “USFWS staff also responded to search for any signs of the yearling,” the agency says, referring to her cub Spirit.
Cowboy State Daily also reached out to Cooley to confirm Ogilvie’s account of their conversation and ask if any decisions about what to do with it had been made.
“We've been hearing from many people with thoughts and requests on how to handle her body,” Cooley replied in a Thursday morning email. “No decisions have been made yet.”
Ogilvie said she was told that Grizzly 399’s cub Spirit was seen unharmed after her mother’s death and that there were no plans to capture or collar the yearling cub, who should have sufficient resources and know-how to survive the upcoming winter.
“She said Spirit was seen running up a hill and appeared to be uninjured,”
Ogilvie said. “I thought maybe they would be proactive in trying to capture and collar it to be able to track it, but when I asked, Cooley said there is nothing planned. They're going to let it do its thing.”
The agency backs that up in its Thursday release.
“Grizzly #399’s yearling does not have a tracking collar and has not been located,” it says. “However, there is no indication it was involved in the collision. Given the bear’s age and the time of year, it has a strong chance of surviving on its own. There are currently no plans to capture the yearling. USFWS is monitoring the area to discourage it from remaining near the road.”
Post-Mortem
Now that she knew Grizzly 399’s body had been recovered, Ogilvie had a more pressing concern about how it would be handled. The USFWS has protocols for handling dead grizzlies, which many would say are too grisly and disrespectful for the “Queen of the Tetons.”
“I told Cooley, ‘I'm assuming you're not going to do the status quo of putting it in a dump, or worse ending up like 769 in Gardner with its head and paws removed and left in the river,’” Ogilvie said. “I said that for dramatics, but I've seen bears put in dumps before, even famous ones, and it's horrific.”
Grizzly 769 was killed in July by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks wardens near Gardiner, Montana, after repeated home break-ins. The bear’s head and paws were removed to prevent them from ending up on the black market, while the body was left for nature to take its course.
Ogilvie said Cooley could not give her an answer about what would happen to Grizzly 399 because the incident was still fresh.
What Should Be Done
Famous residents of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem often find new lives after death. Thousands of people heavily invested in Grizzly 399 have different opinions on how to honor her respectfully and dignifiedly.
Wolf 302, a famous wolf from Yellowstone National Park, had its skeleton articulated after it died in 2009. It is now in the permanent collection of the Yellowstone Heritage and Research Center in Gardiner.
A similar fate could be an option for Grizzly 399. The bear’s skeleton could be preserved and articulated, while her hide could be taxidermized and displayed in a museum or visitor center.
This option is already dividing many people who followed and were inspired by Grizzly 399.
“I think that is barbaric,” said West Virginia resident and grizzly enthusiast Matt Callaway. “That's the way a hunter treats his trophy. I don't even think I could look at something like that. She deserves to be memorialized, but I think it's absolutely the wrong way to go.”
Callaway had a grander vision in mind. He wants to launch a grassroots effort to place a permanent memorial to Grizzly 399 in Grand Teton National Park, with the remains of 399 permanently and securely interred underneath it.
“I saw a larger-than-life bronze sculpture of 399 by Sandy Scott at the Wilcox Gallery in Jackson,” he said. “To me, it's intended to be a monument. I want to see that or something similar placed somewhere along Pilgrim Creek Road where people could see it, reminisce, and know she’s there.”
A similar sculpture by Scott is already standing in front of the National Museum of Military Vehicles in Dubois. Many others have latched onto the idea of Grizzly 399 being buried with a suitable memorial marking the spot in Grand Teton National Park, but actualizing the vision won't be easy.
The ‘Right’ Memorial
Ogilvie’s conversation with Cooley about Grizzly 399’s body sparked an intense discussion on what should be done with the bear’s remains after she shared the details on social media.
Her fears about 399’s body ending up in a dump inspired Callaway to pursue a permanent memorial.
Ogilvie said she supports a Grand Teton burial and monument to Grizzly 399 in spirit but doesn’t think it’s the best idea logistically.
“A lot of people have spoken about wanting her body put back on the earth, up in her area, Pilgrim Creek,” she said. “That sounds like a beautiful idea, putting her back into the earth and letting nature take its course.
“However, that usually doesn’t happen because they don't want it dug up by either predators or people trying to poach a part of her body. I don't think that's the best idea, and you can quote me on that.”
Ogilvie believes that taxidermy and mounting Grizzly 399 could be a respectful and educational option to memorialize the bear, but only if she “returns home.”
“A lot of people don't want her gawked at in a museum, and I'm not interested in a museum,” she said. “People have mentioned the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, and I don't think that's the right place. Her body needs to stay in Grand Teton.”
Ultimately, the USFWS will decide what will happen to Grizzly 399. Ogilvie shared her thoughts on a dignified afterlife for the grizzly with the agency and hopes the it considers the emotional investment of thousands of people.
“I'm a nobody, really,” she said. “But I am somebody smart enough to call the agencies, put my two cents in, and make sure that she's not dumped or discarded. Sometimes, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service doesn’t have common sense. They might not know the extent of what the people want for 399.”
Public Mourning
Regardless of what happens to Grizzly 399’s body, the unanimous consensus is that people want to be informed throughout the decision-making process. Ogilvie, Callaway, and many others hope the USFWS will be transparent and open about what will happen to the legendary grizzly.
“The public should and needs to be informed about the decision-making and what happens to her body,” Ogilvie said. “We as a community — Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Grand Teton National Park — have followed her for so many years. I would expect the public to be informed.”
“I fell head over heels in love with Grizzly 399 through Facebook posts,” Callaway said. “I came out in May of this year for the first time and was actually able to see her and photograph her. The primary reason I want everything to be public is that it is beyond argument where she is and that she was treated with dignity.”
Even as the world mourns the death of Grizzly 399, they’re emotionally invested in the final chapter of the Queen of the Tetons. Amidst the shock and sadness, Ogilvie takes comfort in 399’s incredible life, not her sudden and unexpected death.
“Here’s how I look at it,” she said. “A lot of people are just very upset at how she passed away, but she didn't get shot, and she was able to live her life on her terms, when and where she wanted to go. That's amazing.”
Andrew Rossi can be reached at arossi@cowboystatedaily.com.
