Grizzly 399 was no stranger to roads. For nearly three decades, she raised generations of cubs near the busy roadways in and around Grand Teton National Park, relying on the traffic to keep male grizzlies away from her cubs and, along the way, inspiring a dedicated fan club for herself and her offspring. But on Oct. 22, all that ended, when a driver passing through the Snake River Canyon, south of the park near the town of Alpine, Wyoming, struck and killed Grizzly 399.
A magnificent 28-year-long run, abruptly ended by steel, aluminum and rubber.
The driver, who swerved to miss the bear’s yearling cub, was neither drunk nor speeding. He was simply doing what thousands of people who work in Jackson, Wyoming, do every day: driving home at night to a more affordable community, like Star Valley, Wyoming, or Teton Valley, Idaho. A thorough crash investigation was conducted by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and reported by WyoFile.
The driver, who swerved to miss the bear’s yearling cub, was neither drunk nor speeding.
The death of “Wyoming’s true reigning celebrity” a charismatic and beloved bruin whose death has been reported by every major news outlet in the U.S., is a painful reminder that national parks aren’t enough to protect wide-ranging species like grizzlies.
Grand Teton’s wildlife can wander north, into Yellowstone National Park, and east and west into national forests and do so in relative safety. But south of the park, where Jackson sits, local commuters and tourists snarl the two-lane highways that lead into and out of the valley of Jackson Hole and cut through the sagebrush flats, aspen meadows and river canyons that the animals also use.
Cellphone records show that during peak summer season, 50,000 people visit Jackson daily, most in cars or buses. Visitor numbers slump in the fall, but animal activity picks up as migrations and preparations for winter hibernation begin, drawing ungulates, bears and other species out of the mountains toward the still-busy valley roads. Animals — including 399 and her previous cubs — are also lured south by human attractants: unsecured backyard beehives, chicken coops and other tempting treats that wildlife officials have warned about for years.
Grizzly 399 is the most famous recent victim of Yellowstone-area traffic, but not the first and certainly not the last.
Grizzly 399 is the most famous recent victim of Yellowstone-area traffic, but not the first and certainly not the last. Vehicles also killed two of her cubs. And shortly after her death, a truck killed a large bull moose just south of Grand Teton on Highway 191. According to the Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation, which tracks roadkill hotspots for moose, elk and mule deer, drivers strike and kill at least 20 moose annually in Teton County, Wyoming. Grand Teton National Park says that between 75 and 100 large animals are killed by cars within the park boundaries every year.
As the mourning continues for Grizzly 399 — dubbed “Queen of the Tetons” by her admirers — conservationists hope her death will increase support for human-wildlife coexistence in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem and beyond. Proven preventive measures include lowering nighttime speed limits in areas with lots of critters, promptly removing roadkill that might attract predators, and bear-proofing homes, businesses and public places to prevent bears and other animals from scavenging. Investments in road crossings for wildlife where appropriate, and the connection of large landscapes via suitable habitat corridors, are also key. For while Grizzly 399 was a consummate survivor, even a nearly 400-pound bear is no match for a car.
This story is part of High Country News’ Conservation Beyond Boundaries project, which is supported by the BAND Foundation. hcn.org/cbb
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