Grand Teton’s beloved grizzly bear No. 399 mourned after being hit by a car.

With nearly three decades of roaming the snowy wilderness of the Teton Range, Grizzly No. 399 has become the beloved mama bear of millions of park visitors following her annual adventures and ever-growing family tree.

Nature lovers are mourning the head of a world-famous bear family after she was struck and killed by a car on a highway in western Wyoming on Oct. 22. Dozens of people are expected to brave cold weather Saturday night in the picturesque ski town of Jackson to attend a candlelight vigil, with hundreds more watching online.

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Wildlife photographers, biologists and members of the public will come together to share fond memories of the 28-year-old grizzly bear known for frequenting tourist spots and roadsides in Grand Teton National Park.

A PBS documentary called her the “Queen of the Tetons,” and an Instagram account dedicated to her has amassed more than 60,000 followers.

“She was a living legend, she became an ambassador for her species and sort of a rallying symbol for people working to preserve American public lands,” said Jack Bales, a wildlife guide who is organizing the ceremony in Jackson’s town square.

Named for the tag researchers attached to her ear, No. 399 was the oldest known reproducing female grizzly bear in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. She is credited with helping the region’s large population recover from just over 100 people in the 1970s to about 1,000 today.

Over the years, she has had 18 known cubs in eight litters, and some have been seen having cubs of their own.

Her ashes were scattered this week in the Pilgrim Creek area of ​​Grand Teton National Park, where she spent most of her life, park officials said.

“399 will always be a part of this special place,” Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins said in a statement. “However, much remains to be done to ensure that her descendants and all grizzly bears continue to thrive in the Yellowstone ecosystem. We all need to make sure they do.”

Grizzlies have been on and off the endangered species list. They remain protected by the federal government, but some officials in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho have attempted to remove federal protection as their populations swell. States want to restore control of grizzly bears and allow limited hunting.

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Conservationists say the species still needs protection because food shortages caused by climate change have forced grizzlies further from their habitats in search of food.

During his travels in the Tetons, Bales said he often notices barren blueberry bushes damaged by rising temperatures, which he said may help explain why 399 was located about 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of the site her habitat in the park when she was fatally struck. In the fall, grizzlies must eat almost nonstop to accumulate enough fat to support hibernation.

At Saturday’s vigil, the guide said he planned to sing some of the songs he and his wife, Gina, played while searching for her and her cubs.

The male yearling, known informally as “Rowdy” or “Spirit”, was with number 399 when she was killed and has not been found for nearly two weeks since then.

“There is no indication that he was injured as a result of the collision,” said Joe Suszwalak of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “Given the age of the bear and the time of year, the yearling has a good chance of surviving on its own and there are no plans to capture it at this time.”

On average, about three grizzly bears are killed each year in vehicle collisions in the Yellowstone ecosystem, according to data collected by researchers and published by the park. 399 was the second grizzly bear killed by a vehicle this year.

Law enforcement officials called the bear’s death an accident. The driver did not speed and was not injured.