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 Life as a grizzly bear in the Lower 48 isn't easy, but for 28 years, Bear 399 rose to the challenge. Dubbed "Queen of the Tetons," this charismatic mother gained fame successfully rearing cubs year after year.1 In 2020 she became just the 14th grizzly ever known to give birth to quadruplets. In 2023, she became the oldest bear to give birth to a cub in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.2 But last October, Bear 399 gained a tragic title -- she was the 51st grizzly struck and killed by a vehicle in the Greater Yellowstone area since 2009.3 The life of 399 serves to illustrate both the achievements that have been made in grizzly bear rehabilitation in the Lower 48, and the long way we still have to go in learning how to coexist with these magnificent bears.
Not long ago, scientists feared the grizzly was doomed to extinction in the Lower 48. With as few as 300 left, grizzlies were granted protection under the Endangered Species Act in 1975. But by the mid-90s when Bear 399 was born, they were still struggling, with estimates placing the population around 400.4 Over the course of Bear 399's life, the population has expanded to an estimated 2,000 bears. Though still a far cry from the 50,000 bears that once traversed the western U.S. in the early 1800s, this remains an incredible achievement in species recovery, one that Bear 399 played a critical role in.5 Bear 399 also served as an ambassador, revealing a softer side to a species written off by many as blood-thirsty brutes. In her leisurely strolls along roadways crowded with spectators, she demonstrated a lesser-known reality: like most wild animals, if given space and left alone, bears pose little threat to humans. Of course, as humans continue to expand and move into grizzly habitat, space can become an issue. And more often than not, it's the grizzlies who pay the price. By one estimate, a heartbreaking 85% of all grizzly bears in the Lower 48 are killed because of humans before reaching old age.6 Some bears are killed after hunting livestock, not understanding the differences between cows and wild elk. Some are poached illegally. Some bears are tempted by easy access to poorly-protected human food, and are euthanized in the interest of avoiding human-bear conflict down the road. Many are hit by cars. Some of Bear 399's cubs have suffered these fates.7 And in the end, Bear 399, too was killed by a human. For too long, we have pitted bears against humans, either vying for the grizzly's complete eradication, or allowing them to rebound while failing to address our own encroachment into their habitat. It is time to forge an alternative path, one that gives bears the space to be bears, while also providing humans opportunities to appreciate these spectacular animals. At Environmental Action, we're advocating for the continued protection of grizzlies under the Endangered Species Act, working to increase wildlife crossings to limit animal collisions and supporting the preservation of wild areas where grizzlies can roam free. So can humans and grizzlies coexist peacefully? If Bear 399's life tells us anything, it's that we can, but only so long as we're willing to put in the work. Thank you, The Environmental Action team Your donation will be used to stand up for wildlife and the wild places they call home, and to support all of our campaigns to protect our environment. The generosity of people just like you is what makes all of our work possible. |
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