Internet Mourns Tragic Death of ‘Teton Queen’ Grizzly Bear 399

It’s a sad day for Grizzly bear fans everywhere. Grizzly no. Mama bear 399, who won hearts all over the internet, died after being hit by a passing car near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. In life, Grizzly was known as the “Queen of the Tetons.”

The tragic incident occurred on October 22 on Highway 26/89 in the Snake River Canyon.

As of this reporting, CBS News He notes that the car was not speeding and authorities described the death as an accident.

“The bear walked right into the road,” Lincoln County Sheriff’s Patrol Lt. John Stetzenbach reportedly said. Stetzenbach explained that the driver “failed to brake in time to avoid the bear and the collision occurred.”

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The police officer said the collision was “truly an accident” and reiterated that the driver was not speeding or distracted. No citation was issued and the Subaru the person was driving had to be towed from the scene. The driver’s identity has not been made public.

According to a Press release According to information received from the National Parks Service, the bear was identified through ear tags and a microchip. The mother bear had a one-year-old cub with her when she died.

Grizzly no. The 399 was special for many reasons. At 28 years old, she was “the oldest known breeding female grizzly bear in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem,” U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Grizzly Bear Recovery Coordinator Hilary Cooley said in the press release.

Grizzly bear lovers eagerly awaited each spring to see how many cubs she had birthed over the winter, CBS News reported. Over the years, people have counted 18 known offspring out of eight. In 2020, the bear was known to have four cubs in its litter. The bear was also a fixture on the internet.

“People around the world have been tracking grizzly bear 399 for decades,” Cooley said.

“Wildlife vehicle collisions and collisions are unfortunate,” said Angi Bruce, Wyoming Game and Fish Department Director. “We are grateful that the driver is okay and understand that the community is saddened to hear of the death of grizzly bear 399.”

Death is tragic. Grizzly no, as Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins added. The 399 was the only one of its kind.

“The grizzly bear is an iconic species that helps make the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem so extraordinary,” Jenkins said. “Grizzly bear 399 was perhaps the species’ foremost ambassador. He inspired countless visitors around the world about conservation stewardship and will be missed.”

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