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World Famous Grizzly 399 Dead After Being Hit by a Car

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October 23, 2024, 02:36 PM
TMats
World Famous Grizzly 399 Dead After Being Hit by a Car
quote:
Grizzly 399, the most famous bear in the world, died Tuesday night after being hit by a vehicle on Highway 26/89 in the Snake River Canyon.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service announced that Grizzly Bear 399 was fatally struck by a car south of Jackson. The bear’s identity was confirmed through ear tags and a microchip.

Grizzly 399 was an estimated 28 years old, a truly advanced age for grizzlies, which almost never live to 30 in the wild.

She also was likely the most documented and known bear in the world because of her advanced age and high public profile in the Grand Teton wilderness. Many photographers would travel from around the world to photograph her and her cubs over the years.

Cowboy State Daily

I knew a Park Ranger when I lived and worked in the GYA who referred to her and her cubs as “The Hollywood Bears.” Pretty apt description. There will be many, many sad people in the world tonight.


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despite them
October 23, 2024, 07:34 PM
sourdough44
A good run. I’d think the roads are near their highest risk, other than some fighting with each other.

I wonder how the car faired??
October 23, 2024, 08:07 PM
92fstech
That's too bad. She had a pretty good run, but it sure is a shame to go out like that Frown.
October 23, 2024, 08:22 PM
Paten
I believe Yogi, Booboo and Smoky are more famous.
October 23, 2024, 09:02 PM
1s1k
Living in the wild that long only to be taken out by a car is a bummer.

Am I the only one who wants to see the car. That’s a big bear.
October 23, 2024, 09:55 PM
Redhookbklyn
How do you not see a 7 foot 400 pound bear?



“There is love in me the likes of which you’ve never seen. There is rage in me the likes of which should never escape."
—Mary Shelley, Frankenstein

October 23, 2024, 10:09 PM
sourdough44
The Bear likely ran out of the ditch at higher speed, dark as coal.

The younger son had a deer hit him, full speed, mating season, hit near the front tire.

About 3 months ago the other son hit a cow in rural Utah, at night. It was a ‘closed range’ type area, cow got out of the fence. The cow had its head(and eyes) pointed away from the oncoming Mazda. The cow went over the car, denting & damaging everything on the way.

They never got hurt, the car was totaled. The next morning the cow was dispatched, broken hip or so.
October 24, 2024, 05:23 AM
trapper189
quote:
Originally posted by Redhookbklyn:
How do you not see a 7 foot 400 pound bear?

Can’t miss it.
October 24, 2024, 06:58 AM
hooch
World famous? I never heard of her. Now 747 up in Katmai, that's a different story.
October 24, 2024, 08:20 AM
TMats
quote:
Originally posted by hooch:
World famous? I never heard of her. Now 747 up in Katmai, that's a different story.

Yeah, she was.


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despite them
October 24, 2024, 08:22 AM
fischtown7
quote:
Originally posted by Paten:
I believe Yogi, Booboo and Smoky are more famous.


You forgot Baloo and Gentle Ben.
October 24, 2024, 09:34 AM
Fly-Sig
The Park Service did a study which showed, well, speed kills. 45mph or slower has very few wildlife collisions, whereas 55mph or faster has a lot.

Basically, neither humans nor animals have the ability to judge time-speed-distance very well as speeds exceed about 45mph.

We have a lot of deer, elk, and moose collisions around here. Lower speed limits have helped substantially. But at night it can be nearly impossible to see them even at very low speed!

Add in distracted tourist drivers in places like Jackson Hole and it is inevitable that wildlife gets killed.
October 24, 2024, 09:41 AM
V-Tail
quote:
Originally posted by fischtown7:
quote:
Originally posted by Paten:
I believe Yogi, Booboo and Smoky are more famous.
You forgot Baloo and Gentle Ben.







הרחפת שלי מלאה בצלופחים
October 24, 2024, 10:56 AM
TMats
Bill Allard is a wildlife photographer from Utah that I've become acquainted with over the last several years. Here's his tribute to 399.



quote:
Wildlife photography has become a huge part of my life in the past 20 years. And during that time I have been gifted with being able to take some very neat subjects. And one of my very favorite subjects was grizzly bear named 399. She became the most famous bear on this planet for a number of reasons. But sadly yesterday she was hit and killed by a vehicle. I am posting her photo with a big hurt in my heart. I am also posting it much larger than I normally would so hopefully you can see her beauty.

I would also like to say that many of us drive way too fast nowadays and especially at night. Many of us need to slow down and be more cautious for a number of reasons.

If there's a bear heaven 399 will enter as one of the best bears ever!
- Bill Allard, Wildlife Photographer



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despite them
October 24, 2024, 02:12 PM
92fstech
Thanks for that, TMats. That's a great photo and a good reminder. Even though I'm a gun guy, I'm more into self defense than hunting and I've always been a lot more interested in shooting animals with a camera than with a gun. I'd much rather have prints hanging on my wall than heads. I'll have to check out some more of Bill's work.