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The bear was killed on Highway 26/89 in Snake River Canyon, south of Jackson, Wyoming. The bear's identity was confirmed through ear tags and a microchip.聽

鈥淧eople from around the world have followed grizzly bear 399 for several decades,鈥� said Hilary Cooley, Grizzly Bear Recovery Coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "At 28 years old, she was the oldest known reproducing female grizzly bear in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.鈥澛�

Grizzly bear 399 had a yearling cub with her, whose whereabouts are unknown. At this time, there is no evidence to suggest the yearling was also involved in the incident, but the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is monitoring the area.聽

鈥淪he was a Yellowstone icon with more than 20 cubs and grand cubs, and the grizzly bear population will surely suffer from her loss," said聽Andrea Zaccardi, carnivore conservation legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity. "Tragedies like this highlight why we need to maintain federal protections for bears and do more to ensure their safety from cars and other threats.鈥�

Unfortunately, vehicle collisions with wildlife, including grizzly bears, are not uncommon across their range. The USFWS is working with state and local agencies to gather more information.聽

Jackson-based photographer Thomas Mangelsen may be personally responsible for making the bear and her offspring so popular, taking thousands of photos over the course of her lifetime.

鈥淚 first saw 399 in 2006, and photographing her has kind of become a habit,鈥� Mangelsen told the Billings Gazette in a 2016 interview. 鈥淪he鈥檚 pretty special.鈥�

He published two books of photographs on the grizzly, the most recent simply titled "Grizzly 399, The World's Most Famous Mother Bear."

鈥淢ost of the photographs were taken from the highway or a car,鈥� Mangelsen said of his first book, "Grizzlies of Pilgrim Creek, An Intimate Portrait of 399." 鈥淚 don鈥檛 go tromping around in the woods. But she鈥檚 walked within 6 feet of my car. It鈥檚 really cool to have those opportunities.鈥�

For years as 399 negotiated the busy roadways of Grand Teton, not to mention tourists who would approach too close to capture their own photos and videos, the large bear was somehow able to avoid being killed or getting into trouble.

鈥淭he first year I watched her, she鈥檇 look both ways before crossing the highway,鈥� Mangelsen said. 鈥淚f the cubs didn鈥檛 cross right away she鈥檇 go back and get them.鈥�

Mangelsen said 399 may have used the densely populated park as a way to protect her cubs from male bears. Males will kill cubs to induce a female to breed with them.

Veteran Montana journalist Todd Wilkinson, who wrote for Mangelsen's books, said the idea that grizzlies in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem may be removed from the Endangered Species List and possibly hunted seems absurd when considering bears like 399.

鈥淪o you have this incredible bear, and she has taught these remarkable things to her cubs,鈥� Wilkinson said. 鈥淒o we really want to make a bear like that expendable?鈥�

Such wildlife is more valuable alive than dead, he argued, attracting millions of tourists to the region every year.

鈥淭he grizzly bear is an iconic species that helps make the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem so extraordinary," said聽Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins.聽"Grizzly bear 399 has been perhaps the most prominent ambassador for the species. She has inspired countless visitors into conservation stewardship around the world and will be missed."

From 2009-2023, there have been 49 grizzly bear mortalities (all sex and age classes combined) due to vehicle collisions in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, according to the聽Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team.

鈥淲ildlife vehicle collisions and conflict are unfortunate,鈥� said Angi Bruce, Wyoming Game and Fish Department director.聽"We are thankful the driver is OK and understand the community is saddened to hear that grizzly bear 399 has died."

The average number of grizzly bear mortalities in the GYE due to vehicle collisions between 2009-2023 has averaged 3.3 bears a year.聽聽

In 2024, including this incident, there have been two grizzly bear mortalities from vehicle strikes in the GYE.聽

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