Flat Creek Inn

In Memoriam: Grizzly 399

Grizzly 399


Grizzly 399, the famed mama bear who has been featured in our blog more than once, has died. She was struck by a vehicle on Highway 26/89 in Snake River Canyon, just south of Jackson. Her identity was confirmed via microchip. She was 29. 

In a world where most grizzlies don’t live past 25, Grizzly 399’s long life was remarkable. Over nearly three decades, she raised 18 cubs, with eight surviving to adulthood. Last year, she became the oldest recorded grizzly in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem to give birth, setting a new benchmark for her species.

Unlike most bears, 399 lived close to human-populated areas, giving us rare insights into grizzly behavior and motherhood. Photographers like Tom Mangelsen and Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven captured many of these moments, including her famous quadruplet cubs in 2020—a feat that inspired the 2024 documentary 399: Queen of the Tetons.

Her life reminds us how wildlife must adapt to an ever-changing landscape, and her death serves as a sobering reminder of the risks they face. While she was just one bear, Grizzly 399 became a symbol of survival and resilience, inspiring those who followed her story to appreciate the wild and protect it. 

Farewell, 399. You will be remembered through the bears you raised, the people you inspired, and the landscapes you called home.

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This post is brought to you by Flat Creek Inn.

Photo credit: George Frey / Getty Images


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