Who Is Bear 399? Only the Most Famous Bear at Grand Teton National Park
Who is the most famous bear? You might say Smokie the Bear or Yogi Bear, but have you heard of Bear 399? I had never heard of this bear until I went to Grand Tetons. I was there for 5 days and kept trying to spot wildlife; lucky; I saw all types of wildlife but a black bear.
One day I was driving, and I saw a whole bunch of people pull over (a sign that a bear, moose, or elk was in the area). I asked one of the 100 photographers there what they saw. They told me nothing yet, but Bear 399 and her cubs should be coming around soon. Bear 399? I asked what they were talking about, and they explained, with a disappointed look on their face, that she is the most famous bear and she has four cubs. Apparently, this was something they assumed everyone knew.
Famous bear? Four cubs? Yep, I am on a mission! That was my new goal at the Grand Tetons! I stayed for a while, hoping I would see her, but no luck. I left and searched for some service so I could google her. Thanks to Google, she is the oldest grizzly bear living outside the zoo. She was born in 1996 and has 22 descendants, including the 4 cubs with her now. By these standards, she is equivalent to being a human grandmother, and there is a chance she could be a great-grandmother while still having more cubs!! How freaking awesome is that?!
For days I staked out the areas where bears are known to hang out or cross. I could see two grizzlies from a far distance, but no bear 399. You would know if it was her by seeing her four cubs with her. I even asked the locals where one should go to see her, and they told me a few spots to check out. Still no luck.
Until one afternoon…
I was driving back from Yellowstone National Park and saw all these cars on the side of the road. I pulled over and asked if bear 399 was there, and a couple of people told me that she was just there but now was at the Jackson Dam with her four cubs! I was excited because I had to go that way to get back to my camp spot.
As I got closer to the dam, I saw many cars pulled over and people looking down at the water. I turned off, and by a miracle, I found a spot and headed to the lake. There she was, at the edge of the water on the other side, drinking and relaxing while her 1-year-old cubs were being rascals and playing with one another. One of the wildlife management people came over and told us that if Bear 399 went back in the water again, we would need to leave. Bears can swim up to 6 miles per hour and run 35 miles per hour, so in theory, they could cross the lake and be on the other side in less than 2 mins. This is one reason why wildlife management shows up anytime wildlife is nearby. They’re doing their part to protect animals from humans.
I stood there for between 45 minutes to an hour, watching these young cubs being young cubs and a tired mama bear relaxing. It was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen besides the wolf I saw that day in Yellowstone. I am a sucker when it comes to wildlife. I love seeing them (from a safe distance) in their element, and to be honest, we are guests in their homes. These animals have been there way before we came, and sadly, they may not be there if we, humans, are not mindful of respecting them and their homes.
I always wonder what the animals think when humans stop and watch them? Do they think, “Oh great, another human again,” “Oh great, I am going to get killed because of the human,” or “Great! I see the humans have food…I want food!!” I am sure I am the only person who wonders about this.
As weird as this sounds, I want to thank Bear 399 for the opportunity to see her and her cubs in their home. It is really special to see this legend.
As of May 2022, her four cubs have split from her; sadly, one of them was euthanized this past month because they had gotten into conflicts. It is important to protect wildlife so they don’t get euthanized for dumb mistakes by humans. Wander to my Tips and Tricks page if you want to learn how to protect bears and yourself.
If you want to follow Bear 399 journey, check out her Instagram Page