Tragic news for our favorite grizzly bear family

 

In the spring of 2020, a mother grizzly known as "Bear 399" emerged from her den with four rambunctious cubs in tow, and the country fell in love.1 Visitors flocked to Grand Teton National Park to catch a glimpse of the blissful family as Bear 399 raised her four roly poly cubs into capable young adults. By the time the cubs went off on their own in spring 2022, park rangers and admirers had high hopes for their futures. But instead the family has been struck by one tragedy after another. First, one of the cubs was euthanized after becoming too habituated to humans. Then Bear 399 herself was hit and killed by a car. And just last month, another member of the famous litter, "Bear 1058," met the same fate as his mother when he was struck by a vehicle.2 Bear 399 and her offspring should still be roaming across the wilds of Wyoming and Montana, but this family's sad story shows how much work still has to be done in the name of grizzly bear recovery. Grizzly bears in the Lower 48 have come a long way since 1975 when they were granted protection under the Endangered Species Act. But they continue to struggle as humans intrude onto their natural habitat.3 A devastating 85% of grizzlies are killed by humans before reaching old age.4 Many of these deaths are caused by car accidents, as highways often slice through bear territories and long established wildlife migration paths and leave no safe ways to cross. Between 2009 and 2023 alone, 49 grizzly bears were killed in vehicle collisions.5 Of the 18 offspring Bear 399 raised over the course of her life, 11 have died.6 And even now, politicians from states including Montana and Wyoming are currently working to pass legislation that would legalize the hunting of these precious bears.7 While their mother and brothers have died, it's believed the other two cubs from the quad litter are still alive. We must secure a better future for these two young grizzlies and their brethren across the Lower 48. That's why we're calling on Wildlife Services to stop killing grizzlies, campaigning for continued protection of grizzlies under the Endangered Species Act, and organizing to establish more wildlife crossings to prevent the accidents that killed Bears 399 and 1058. In those two years where Bear 399 and her quadruplets lived together, we got a glimpse into a potential future -- one where grizzly bears can raise their families in ease and safety. Now it's time to make that future a reality. Thank you, The Environmental Action team P.S. All of our efforts to protect grizzly bears and the wild places they call home are made possible through supporters like you. Donate today to keep our campaigns going strong. 1. Sarah Kuta, "Male Offspring of Grizzly 399--the 'World's Most Famous Bear' --Killed by Vehicle in Grand Teton National Park," Smithsonian Magazine, May 9, 2025. 2. Sarah Kuta, "Male Offspring of Grizzly 399--the 'World's Most Famous Bear' --Killed by Vehicle in Grand Teton National Park," Smithsonian Magazine, May 9, 2025. 3. Josh Burnham and Nick Mott, "Timeline: A History Of Grizzly Bear Recovery In The Lower 48 States," Montana Public Radio, January 9, 2025. 4. Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, "Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team," USGS, December 13, 2017. 5. Aliza Chasan, "Famous mama grizzly bear killed by car 'stepped right out into the road' before collision, Wyoming officials say," CBS News, October 28, 2024. 6. Sarah Kuta, "Male Offspring of Grizzly 399--the 'World's Most Famous Bear' --Killed by Vehicle in Grand Teton National Park," Smithsonian Magazine, May 9, 2025. 7. Bobby Lee, "Senator Daines pushes to speed up grizzly bear delisting in Montana, Idaho, Washington," ABC Montana Right Now, May 13, 2025. 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.