JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — Grizzly bears are again taking center stage in Jackson Hole as they enter the stage of hyperphagia—a power-eating state of calorie packing that has bears fattening up for winter hibernation.
Perhaps no bear is as famous as 399. The grand ol’ dame has paraded her 4 cubs around for 2 years now. She again is exploring areas south of Grand Teton National Park, which puts her and her young’uns right into the busy city life of Wilson and Jackson.
So far, the wily mama has kept her and her cubs out of trouble. She is pretty good with roads, choosing to live very close to traffic for much of her 21-year life, much to the delight of wildlife paparazzi in western Wyoming.
The bruin family has gotten into a few residential areas and received food reward but for the most part people have made themselves aware and taken necessary precautions to eliminate attractants on their properties.
It has been incredibly entertaining and educating to witness 399’s behavior over her long life. Her penchant for roads and tolerance of people is rare. 399’s prolific litter-making is also something of a wonder. At the advanced age of 20, this grizzly bear birthed not just 1 or 2 cubs, but 4. And all have survived now into their second year.
Her parenting skills are something to admire. 399 passes on to her offspring that chill attitude when hanging out in heavily-trafficked areas. Experts believe she does so in order to avoid aggressive boars that could run off or kill the cubs in order to bring a sow back into heat.
It will be interesting, and perhaps a little heart wrenching to watch the dedicated mama kick her cubs out of the family early next summer.
Sow grizzly typically emancipate their cubs after two years with parental supervision. As the sow enters estrous she will begin to behave strangely to her cubs, sometimes physically running them off. Sometimes, in acting receptive to a potential boar mate rather than fighting to protect her cubs from the threat, the cubs will get the hint that mama wants to be alone. Also, they are scared of the much larger boar and usually run away.
It’s nature. At 2 and a half, it’s time for a bear cub to go its own way. What will be interesting to see is whether, at 21, Griz 399 feels the urge again to mate. It would be unlikely that she would have another litter but she’s fooled us before.
For now, 399 and her cubs put on a great show, even if it is a little nerve-racking to think about her crossing busy highways in the Jackson area.
Please, property owners, keep your place free of attractants, secure garbage, food, bird feeders, etc. And if you are headed into the backcountry, be aware that bears are really packing on pounds right now and can be a little kooky and unpredictable with their behavior.
Two cool Facebook videos from Jenna Mahaffie:
- https://www.facebook.com/1223851926/videos/4211965595565996/
- https://www.facebook.com/1223851926/videos/555273185806494/
