Grizzly Bear 399, the World’s Oldest, Dies After Being Hit by a Car
Grizzly bear 399, one of the most famous bears in the world, was hit and killed: she lives between Yellowstone Park and Grand Teton, had 18 cubs and was also a social media star
BOLOGNA – Grizzly bear 399 was hit and killed a very well-known and loved bear throughout the world and symbol of the Yellowstone National Park and the nearby Grand Teton National Park. The bear was 28 years old and was the oldest specimen in the world capable of reproducing: she was one of the most prolific females in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem: over the years, she had given birth to as many as 18 cubs. At the time of the hit, the bear was with a cub that apparently escaped and survived. The federal agency, in a statement, said it was “monitoring the area” to ensure the conditions of the cub.
Bear 399 had a dedicated Instagram profile and had appeared in many magazines: she was one of the most photographed bears in the world. An episode of the Nature series, broadcast by the American broadcaster Pbs, had also been dedicated to the animal. Her identity, after the accident, was confirmed by the microchip and tags attached to her ears. The accident occurred on the evening of Tuesday 22 October in Wyoming, in the United States. The driver of the vehicle was not injured.
“People from all over the world have been following Grizzly 399 for decades,” said Hilary Cooley, grizzly bear recovery coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “Collisions and conflicts between wildlife and vehicles are unfortunate,” said Angi Bruce, chief of Wyoming’s Game and Fish Department. “We are grateful that the driver is OK and understand that the community is saddened by Grizzly 399’s death.” Between 2009 and 2023, 49 bears died in vehicle collisions in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
(@sylerpr photo from the bear’s Instagram profile)