Fans of Wyoming’s beloved Grizzly 399, still saddened by her death from a vehicle strike last fall, were dealt another blow on Tuesday. An offspring from her world-famous 2020 litter of quadruplet cubs was confirmed dead after apparently being hit by a vehicle days earlier in Grand Teton National Park.
Grizzly 1058, a 5-year-old male, was found dead near Highway 26 inside the park, east of the Buffalo Fork River, the National Park Service reported in a statement on Tuesday.
The bear had apparently been struck by a vehicle on the highway and made it to a patch of willows about 125 yards from the road.
There, “it succumbed to its injuries. The bear may have been deceased for several days,” according to the Park Service.
Through identification tags, the bear’s carcass was confirmed to be that of Grizzly 1058, the agency reported.
That means that only two of Grizzly 399’s 2020 quads are thought to still be alive.
Another male from the quad litter, Grizzly 1057, was killed by wildlife agents in July 2022 near the town of Cora for displaying “dangerous behavior” toward humans.
That bear had become conditioned to human-provided food sources, and had 13 previously documented conflicts, according to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
‘I’m Still Reeling From It’
Wildlife photographer Savannah Rose is among a worldwide network of fans who followed Grizzly 399 and her numerous cubs throughout the years.
Finding out that another member of Grizzly’s 399 best-known litter was gone was heartbreaking, she told Cowboy State Daily.
“I’m still reeling from it. I wasn’t even aware that he (Grizzly 1058) was in the area,” she said.
“It’s incredibly sad for 399’s legacy, that another part of it is gone,” Rose added.
Grizzly 399 lived to be 28, quite an advanced age for a bear. She became the most famous bear in the world, earning the title “The Queen of the Tetons.”
She died late on Oct. 22, 2024, after being hit by a vehicle on Highway 26/89 in the Snake River Canyon south of Jackson.
“It just sucks that he (Grizzly 1058) died the same way as mom,” Rose said.
“It’s absolutely devastating,” she added. “I hope the other two (members of the quad litter) are OK.”
‘Put Back Into The Landscape’
Grizzly 399 was cremated, and her ashes were spread in the Pilgrim Creek area of Grand Teton park, where she was frequently seen during her lifetime.
The Park Service reported that Grizzly 1058’s remains were “put back into the landscape” in the park, without going into further detail.
Still No Sign Of Sprit
Grizzly 399’s last cub, Spirit, was thought to have been born in January 2023, and thrilled the world when he emerged from the den with his mother in May of that year.
Spirit was noted for his gigantic size. He was reported to have been with Grizzly 399 on the night she was hit but fled the scene unharmed.
It was thought at that time that Spirit was old enough to find a den on his own and settle in for hibernation. It was hoped that he might emerge again this spring.
Rose said there “have been rumors” floating around about sightings of Spirit, but nothing that can be confirmed.
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
