Searching Out the World’s Most Famous Grizzly Bears, Update 2023
The Grand Lady of the Grand Tetons, 27-yo grizzly 399 and her new COY ( cub of the year) take a walk through the biscuitroot flowers. Image: ©Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven
Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven, Wildlife photographer and author.
Editor’s Note: Join us in congratulating Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven on being a winner in the 8th 35 Awards Wildlife Photography category! We are so proud you, Jorn!
The Death of 399: Jorn is donating all proceeds of mugs, hoodies, t-shirts, and ornaments with his iconic image of 399 to grizzly conservation organizations Vital Ground and JH Bear Solutions. Purchase here
Now that summer has officially begun, the bears are roaming, the crowds are arriving to watch them, and it's time for our annual update on the most famous grizzlies in the world!
Grizzly 399, The Queen of Grand Teton National Park
After kicking out her four 2.5-year-old cubs last spring, a big grizzly boar (male) was seen courting her. Immediately everyone began wondering if grizzly 399 would take a break or, at her advanced age, have new cubs this spring. And ... she did it!
✓Trip Tips
Where: Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
When: Spring!
Why: Bears, cubs, wildflowers and more.
How: Take a tour or self drive. Hike, Camp.
Who: People - not pets.
Interested? Contact us
Grizzly 399 emerged from hibernation with a new COY ("Cub Of the Year"), setting a new record! The Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team leader Frank van Manen told WyoFile earlier that the oldest known age of actual reproduction for a wild grizzly was 25. That means Grizzly 399, aged 27, is the new record holder. She'll be 29 when the cub is ready to leave Mom and move into the world on its own.
Just the fact that grizzly 399 is still alive is amazing; only 9% of new cubs make it to her age in the wild. But to appear with a new cub in her 27th spring secures 399's status as the celebrity bear in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Consistency is a Hallmark of this Grand Lady.
Grizzly 399 seems to have an alarm clock in her den. Year after year, she has reliably appeared out of hibernation on or about the date! She typically makes her first appearance around May 18th, when she has new cubs. With older (or no) cubs, the first sighting of 399 is usually around April 15th.
Not knowing if she'd have new cubs, I started looking for her this year in the latter half of April. As time passed and hours of waiting turned into days and weeks, fear started settling in.
Grizzy 399 Sets a Record!
399 shocked the world in 2020 when she emerged with four new cubs. Last fall, many thought they might have seen her for the last time, but 399 is no ordinary bear, as Spirit can attest. Image: ©Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven
Having turned 27 in the den, did 399 even make it through the winter? But then, on May 16th at around 2:45 PM, someone caught a glimpse of a bear far up Pilgrim Creek: 399's territory!
The bear appeared for a split second. No one was sure the bear was a grizzly, but one spotter thought they saw a cub, too. Someone else thought they saw two cubs. Rumors began flying and crowds forming in Grand Teton National Park!
Three hours after that uncertain sighting, she made her grand entrance: grizzly 399 walked out into a sagebrush field and presented her new record-setting baby to her thrilled fans.
Both mom and her new offspring look great. It helps if you only have one hungry baby to feed versus the four she had in 2020, 399’s cub seems to be in good health and pretty big.
A New “Spirit” Discovers the World
The new pressing question? What to name Grizzly 399's record-setting cub! Grizzly bears only receive a research number (like "399") from the Grizzly Interagency Study Team, but not until they are captured and tagged.
But, the little one is far too new to be captured and tagged yet, so what is everyone (unofficially) naming this cute new cub? There are plenty of suggestions, including "Spirit," "Miracle," "Rowdy," "Tuxedo," etc. The jury is still out, but "Spirit" seems to be the front-runner for now!
No one could have imagined this new cub when I wrote: Can the Queen of the Tetons Protect Her Heirs? in 2020.
Grizzly 610 Wakes Up - Sort Of
Sometimes you just need a nap and if you are 610, one of the Grand Teton’s famous grizzlies, well, you can snooze where you want to. Image: ©Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven
Grizzly 610, 399's daughter, caused quite a stir again this spring when she appeared out of hibernation. Last year (2022), at age 17, she emerged with three new lively cubs. Those cubs must still be lively because on May 5th of this year, when she made her first appearance in Grand Teton National Park she got no further than halfway across the park road - and had to take a nap!
Folks watching prior to the snooze reported that 610 seemed groggy and sleepy as she walked around. Then she just lay down on the road. Park rangers rushed to stop traffic from both sides. Some onlookers were afraid she was sick or a car might have hit her, but it was just that she was still "waking up" after her months-long nap.
Since then, she and the three cubs have put in regular appearances and have been successfully hunting elk calves.
Even the sleepiest bear eventually wakes up. Portrait of grizzly 610, fresh from her nap and looking out for the kids. Image: ©Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven
Grizzly 793, aka. Blondie, Still Alone
Blondie, who just turned 16, hasn't been seen yet. Bear watchers believe she lost her three newborn cubs last spring. If she doesn't have new cubs this year, she's likely awake by now but, like 399, without cubs to protect, she's unlikely to spend much time near park roads and humans.
Grizzly 1063, aka. Fritter
at 6 years, 1063, Fritter is getting old enough to be a mom, but for now her world is all about spring rain and wildflowers. Image: ©Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven
Grizzly 1063 is Blondie's offspring. At six years old, Fritter is coming of age to have her cubs, but she appeared out of hibernation solo this year. We'll keep our eyes on her; perhaps in spring '24, she will become a Mom.
The Cunningham Bear, aka. Grizzly 926 Empties Her “Nest”
Grizzly 926 is 610's daughter and 399's granddaughter. The Cunningham bear came out of hibernation with her two two-year-old cubs in late April. Only a few weeks later, she sent the cubs into the world on their own.
926 has been keeping a low profile, with no regular sightings since. As for the two newly on-their-own cubs, they seem to be hanging out in the Oxbow area of the National Park.
Sometimes, the bears just can’t be found. Fortunately, I am searching in some of the world’s most breathtaking scenery. Image: ©Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven
Grizzly 679, aka. Bruno (an Elusive Romeo)
Bruno, the dad of most of the cubs in Grand Teton National Park, came out of hibernation in March (male grizzlies typically wake up first in the spring). But since then, he's only made the odd appearance or two in the National Park. 679 is one of the hardest bears in the Park to photograph: he always seems on a mission to get somewhere and rarely pauses for a picture.
Grizzly 863, aka. Felicia
And last but not least, Felicia and her two 2-year-old cubs came out of hibernation on schedule in late April. We believed Felicia dens near the Continental Divide, so the bears immediately headed to lower elevations to look for food. Felicia has spent her life in the National Forest, so it was surprising that the family briefly entered Grand Teton National Park
It was a cold welcome for 863, Felicia, and her two 2-year old cubs this April. The family crossed the river into Grand Teton National Park from their usual stomping grounds in the National Forest. Image: ©Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven
Felicia's cubs were over two years old this spring, and it was time to find their way. 863 kicked them out a few weeks after we spotted them. It did not take long until a big boar began courting Felicia, so fingers crossed for new cubs next spring!
Felicia has come a long way, you can read more about her in my 2021 article: Felicia, A Young Grizzly Mom in Trouble
Even for a grizzly, the first days on your own can be scary and confusing. Hopefully, he learned well and does not turn to human food, that can lead to his death. Good Luck, young bear! Image: ©Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven
Well, that's my report for now, it’s time to put the pen down - but stay tuned. I’m grabbing my camera and heading back into the Park to watch and photograph the most famous bears on the planet. What’s happening in your world?
Want to see or photograph the Grand Teton’s grizzlies? Let us know!