Grizzly 610 has done some amazing things by the standards of her species, living nearly 20 years and raising 11 cubs so far, but it’s unlikely she’ll ever match the legacy or popularity of her mother, Grizzly 399.
Grizzly 399 became Wyoming’s most famous and beloved bear, snagging a worldwide fanbase the likes of which would have made many human celebrities envious.
There was widespread shock and mourning after she was struck and killed by a vehicle south of Jackson in October 2024.
Grizzly 610 was born to Grizzly 399 in 2006. She’s established quite the following of her own, but it’s doubtful she’ll inherit the throne as “Queen of the Tetons”; that title will forever be reserved for her mother.
Grizzly 610 isn’t as readily visible as Grizzly 399 was, famed wildlife photographer Tom Mangelsen, told Cowboy State Daily.
Grizzly 399 frequently took her cubs near highways and to other highly-visible places, whereas Grizzly 610 is more reclusive, he said.
“I think 399 was a special anomaly in the bear world, not likely to be repeated by 610, even though she is related so closely to 399,” Mangelsen said.
Mangelsen photographed Grizzly 399 and her cubs for years, and his images were a driving force behind her fame.
Grizzly 610, the most famous offspring of Grizzly 399, has had numerous cubs of her own over the years. (Courtesy Tom Mangelsen) 
Grizzly 610, the most famous offspring of Grizzly 399, has had numerous cubs of her own over the years. (Courtesy Tom Mangelsen) 
Grizzly 610, the most famous offspring of Grizzly 399, has had numerous cubs of her own over the years. (Courtesy Tom Mangelsen) 
Grizzly 610, the most famous offspring of Grizzly 399, has had numerous cubs of her own over the years. (Courtesy Tom Mangelsen) 
Grizzly 610, the most famous offspring of Grizzly 399, has had numerous cubs of her own over the years. (Courtesy Tom Mangelsen) 
Grizzly 610, the most famous offspring of Grizzly 399, has had numerous cubs of her own over the years. (Courtesy Tom Mangelsen)
Wyoming’s Wildlife Rock Stars
Grizzly 399 and Grizzly 610 weren’t Wyoming’s first wildlife celebrities, and they won’t be the last.
Among grizzlies, there have been numerous fan favorites, including Bruno, Grizzly 1063, Strawberry, Jam and Blondie.
Even before 399 established her following, a lumbering male bear named Scarface was famous.
And celebrity status isn’t limited to just one species. Hoback the bull moose and the late Wolf 907F helped put Wyoming on the map as a wildlife watchers’ destination.
And, of course, there’s Limpy the Coyote. He’s mastered exaggerating a leg injury and making sad faces, hoping to sucker tourists out of snacks in Yellowstone National Park. (Just a reminder, feeding park wildlife is strictly forbidden).
Wild animals gaining celebrity status has put professional wildlife managers in a quandary. They worry that sentimental feelings over individual creatures might detract from the serious species-level biology that drives wildlife biology.
Others argue that animal celebrities capture attention far beyond Wyoming and help educate people about the importance of wildlife conservation.
And Grizzly 610 is much beloved, no doubt. That became clear when she was stuck and injured by a vehicle in Grand Teton National Park in 2023.
She languished in pain for hours near the roadside, leaving many agonizing over whether she’d make it. There was relief and joy when she recovered and rejoined the three cubs she had at the time.
Visibility Counts
It’s thought that Grizzly 399 started bringing her cubs close to crowds to protect them from marauding male bears.
Male grizzlies will sometimes kill cubs that aren’t their own, in order to put the mother bear back into heat.
In May, a male grizzly killed two of Grizzly 1063’s three cubs in Grand Teton.
While Grizzly 610 is frequently seen, she doesn’t seem to tolerate gawking throngs of admirers as well as her mother did, Mangelsen said.
“Grizzly 399 became famous for not only being the first resident grizzly in Teton Park in some 50 years, but in her acceptance of being near highways, her visibility with cubs and her demeanor, which was more calm than 610’s,” he said.
Wyoming wildlife photographer Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven, who has taken numerous photos of Grizzly 610, agreed that she’s more difficult to find than Grizzly 399 was.
“I don’t think she has the potential to take over for her mom. Her demeanor is not as accommodating or as friendly towards park visitors,” he said.
“Additionally, she seems to have less of a predictable home range compared to her mom. Generally speaking, she is much less visible and photographable,” Vangoidtsenhoven said.
While Grizzly 399 might not have been less camera-shy, it can be argued that Grizzly 610 is better-looking, Mangelsen said.
“I think her beauty is more than 399’s was, which may be subjective, but others agree. Her head more square, her saddle is more blonde and her composition more pleasant,” he said.
Grizzly 610, born in 2006, is the most famous offspring of Wyoming’s beloved Grizzly 399. However, it’s doubtful she will ever reach her mother’s level of fame. (Courtesy Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven) 
Grizzly 610, born in 2006, is the most famous offspring of Wyoming’s beloved Grizzly 399. However, it’s doubtful she will ever reach her mother’s level of fame. (Courtesy Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven) 
Grizzly 610, born in 2006, is the most famous offspring of Wyoming’s beloved Grizzly 399. However, it’s doubtful she will ever reach her mother’s level of fame. (Courtesy Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven) 
Grizzly 610, born in 2006, is the most famous offspring of Wyoming’s beloved Grizzly 399. However, it’s doubtful she will ever reach her mother’s level of fame. (Courtesy Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven)
Cub Count
When Grizzly 399 was still alive, she and Grizzly 610 occasionally had overlapping range.
In 2011, that led to Grizzly 610 adopting one of Grizzly 399’s cubs. Grizzlies are known to adopt one another’s cubs from time to time.
That cub is still alive, along with five of the 10 natural offspring that 610 had.
She doesn’t have cubs with her this year.
Is The Age Of Roadside Grizzlies Over?
Grizzly 399’s fame might not ever be repeated because of changing policy, Mangelsen and Vangoidtsenhoven said.
“I don’t think the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the Wyoming Game and Fish Department will ever tolerate another bear behaving like 399 near roads ever again,” Mangelsen said.
Agencies seem determined to haze bears away from roadsides, he said.
“With their (the agencies) attitudes towards bears, including wanting to take them off the Endangered Species list, the days of seeing numbers of bears along roadways are history, I’m afraid. Pretty sad, but 610 will never be a roadway bear and replace 399’s fame because of those attitudes,” Mangelsen added.
The Pilgrim Creek area in Grand Teton used to be grizzly central, but that might have changed, Vangoidtsenhoven said.
“Now that 399 is gone, a new bear may move into her home range around Pilgrim Creek, or one of the existing bears, like 1063 could become the new celebrity that is easily watchable,” he said.
However, park policy seems to be leaning toward pushing bears away from such places, he said.
“What once was a great area around Pilgrim Creek was one of the only locations in the Lower 48 where you could observe grizzly bears. Today it seems to be solely managed to be the highway to Yellowstone,” he said.
Fame and high visibility can hurt bears, wildlife photographer and grizzly watcher Deby Dixon told Cowboy State Daily.
“Grizzly 399 had to pay a huge price for being famous because she was never left alone,” she said.
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
