Vigil for Lost Grizzly Car #399 | US News

A vigil was held to remember the world famous grizzly bear who was hit by a car.

Grizzly No. 399 has spent three decades delighting visitors to Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park, captivating the attention of millions with his adventures and ever-growing family tree.

Tourists, wildlife biologists, and amateur and professional photographers who spent years studying and photographing the mother bear and her many cubs, and following her comings and goings on social media, are now mourning the bear after Oct. she was hit by a car. on the main road.

“The bear walked right into the road,” authorities said at the time. The collision “was truly an accident” and the driver was not speeding or distracted.

Grizzly Bear No. 399 is believed to have helped increase the region’s grizzly bear population. The male yearling cub believed to have been with her when she was hit has not been seen since, but authorities said there is nothing to indicate he was also injured in the accident.

The rally, which was also followed online by about 1,300 people, took place Saturday evening in the picturesque ski town of Jackson.

Wildlife guide Beau Weldon spoke at the vigil and said the community was going to “ping-pong” through the stages of grief, but that was exactly what they needed to do “despite the challenges.”

“We are terrible and crushed by this, but we are here together,” the guide said as participants huddled in the wet, cold rain.

At 28 years old, Grizzly No. 399 was the oldest known reproducing female grizzly bear in the Yellowstone ecosystem.

Every spring, wildlife enthusiasts eagerly awaited her emergence from her den to see how many young she had given birth to over the winter, then quickly shared the news online. An Instagram account dedicated to her has collected more than 60,000 subscribers.

Over the years, the bear had 18 known cubs in eight litters, standing about 7 feet (2.1 m) tall and weighing about 400 pounds (180 kg).

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Vigil participants observed a moment of silence and listened to a rendition of Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” while trying to keep the wind and rain from blowing out their candles.

“399 will always be a part of this special place,” said Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins.

“However, there is still work 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 that.”