JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — As the most famous grizzly bear family in the world—Bear 399 and cubs—made their way through subdivision after subdivision in the Jackson Hole area, the unthinkable finally happened yesterday.
First reported by followers of 399 on social media, who watched in horror as attempts were made to capture the bruin family on Saturday, a multi-agency effort managed to cage three of 399’s cubs. Mom and another cub escaped.
The incident was witnessed by residents in a Hoback subdivision along U.S. 89 south of Hoback Jct., near the Astoria boat launch. Uniformed personnel from U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, Teton County Sheriff’s Office, and Wyoming Highway Patrol were all observed setting up portable lights and closing off the area to the public.
Eyewitnesses saw three of 399’s cubs captured. The famed sow and a remaining offspring fled the area without being caught.
An early morning press release Sunday from USFWS confirmed two of 399’s cubs were caught and collared. A third was captured but not radio collared. The federal agency added that 399 and the uncaptured cub were never handled, and the captured cubs were released “together in the presence of 399 and the remaining yearling.”
“The Service recognizes the high level of interest in grizzly bear #399, and we thank all of our partners for coming together to do what we can to ensure both the safety of the public as well as the safety of #399 and her yearlings from growing risks of human-bear conflict,” said acting USFWS regional director Matt Hogan. “This preventative step will help us mitigate further conflicts to protect grizzly bear #399, her yearlings, and the public.”
Knowing the exact whereabouts of two of 399’s yearlings will be helpful moving forward, but not for long. The famed griz sow will den one more time with her offspring before turning them loose next spring to fend for themselves. At that point, the aging 399 will presumably be looking at a limited lifespan come 2022.
The remaining uncollared two offspring won’t be providing data. The two that were collared were likely males but that could not be confirmed by Jackson Hole Press.
JH Press has also reached out to learn whether the original intent of the operation was to capture all five bears and relocate them.
