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 “I feel so fortunate to have spent so many years with Grizzly 399 and her cubs. Her presence has been a magical experience for me, one that will likely never come again.”

– Thomas D. Mangelsen

 

 In the winter of 1996, near Pilgrim Creek, a grizzly bear was born one who would later be remembered as the Queen of the Tetons. In 2001, she was fitted with a radio collar as part of a long-term research project. She became the 399th bear to be monitored this way, and thus entered the records as Grizzly 399. By 2018, her telemetry tracking ended, as she lived in an area where she could be easily observed without it.

 

 Unlike most grizzlies, she lived unusually close to people, yet showed little concern for their presence. Scientists believe this behavior began after the loss of a cub in a more remote area, leading her to avoid that region. Despite at least two close encounters, she never harmed a human.

 One such encounter occurred on a bright summer day in 2011, in Yellowstone National Park, among the pine forests and sweeping valleys. With quiet authority, Grizzly 399 and the six cubs she led guided a group of tourists safely along their path.

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 By the time she reached 28, she had already surpassed the typical lifespan of her kind since more than 85% of grizzlies die due to human activity before ever reaching old age. Yet her story ended tragically on the evening of October 22, 2024, when she was struck by a vehicle.

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The story of Grizzly 399 was never just the story of a bear—it was the symbol of a delicate bond between humans and the wild. On that day, as she led her six cubs, she inspired people to live in harmony with nature and strengthened Yellowstone’s living legacy. In memory of the queen and her lineage, only a limited number of this work will be produced.​​