One of many world’s most well-known animals died Tuesday — and never from pure causes.
Grizzly Bear 399 was killed on Tuesday in a automotive collision south of Jackson, Wyo., the Nationwide Park Service stated. She was fatally hit by a car on Freeway 26/89 in Snake River Canyon and was later recognized by her ear tags and microchip. The mama bear had a yearling cub along with her on the time, nevertheless it’s nonetheless lacking.
Park officers don’t imagine the bear cub was additionally within the incident, however they’re persevering with to observe the world, simply in case.
Extra particulars about what occurred will probably emerge within the coming days, however the park service stated car collisions with bears aren’t unusual. Maybe extra importantly, they acknowledged that this explicit grizzly bear had turn out to be probably the most standard animals for guests to Yellowstone Nationwide Park.
A Beloved Bear
“Individuals from world wide have adopted grizzly bear 399 for a number of a long time. At 28 years outdated, she was the oldest recognized reproducing feminine grizzly bear within the Higher Yellowstone Ecosystem,” stated Hilary Cooley, Grizzly Bear Restoration Coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Bear 399 is much from the primary bear to die from a car collision in or close to Yellowstone Nationwide Park. Between 2009 and 2023, parks officers have recorded 49 grizzly bear mortalities attributable to shifting autos.
That’s a bit greater than three bears yearly. Up to now this 12 months, bear 399 is the second Yellowstone bear to die from a car.
“Wildlife car collisions and battle are unlucky,” stated Angi Bruce, Wyoming Recreation and Fish Division Director. “We’re grateful the motive force is okay and perceive the group is saddened to listen to that grizzly bear 399 has died.”
Whereas Yellowstone’s grizzly bears have lengthy attracted the park’s hundreds of thousands of annual vacationers, there’s little question that bear 399 was “maybe probably the most distinguished ambassador for the species,” Grand Teton Nationwide Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins stated.
“The grizzly bear is an iconic species that helps make the Higher Yellowstone Ecosystem so extraordinary,” Jenkins stated. “She has impressed numerous guests into conservation stewardship world wide and shall be missed.”