- 5-year-old male grizzly (No. 1058) killed near Highway 26
- Second fatality in famous Grizzly 399 family within 12 months
- Beloved matriarch produced 18 cubs over 28-year lifespan
- Both bears died in vehicle collisions near park boundaries
- Officials confirm genetic relationship through wildlife tracking data
The Grand Teton ecosystem mourns another tragic loss as wildlife officials confirmed the death of a young grizzly bear from one of North America’s most celebrated bear families. The 180-kilogram male, identified as No. 1058, was found deceased near a major park thoroughfare – marking the second vehicle-related fatality in this lineage since October 2023. His mother, the legendary Grizzly 399, captivated millions during her nearly three-decade reign as Grand Teton’s most photographed and studied bear.
Park biologists report the young bear survived less than four years after separating from his famous mother in 2022. Unlike 399’s other offspring who established territories deeper in wilderness areas, No. 1058 frequently roamed near developed zones – a behavior mirroring his mother’s tendency to forage near roadsides. This pattern highlights a critical challenge for wildlife managers: balancing public access with habitat protection in increasingly popular national parks.
Industry Insight: Vehicle collisions now account for 38% of all grizzly fatalities in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, according to 2024 Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team data. This marks a 17% increase from pre-pandemic levels, correlating with record visitation numbers across Western parks.
The bears’ story underscores systemic pressures facing North American wildlife. Grizzly 399’s final litter of four cubs – born during peak pandemic closures in 2020 – faced unprecedented human interaction from their first moments above ground. While the family’s visibility boosted public interest in conservation, it also created risky dependencies on roadside food sources and habituated behaviors.
Regional Case Study: Glacier National Park’s implementation of wildlife crossing structures reduced ungulate collisions by 72% between 2018-2023. Similar infrastructure proposals for Grand Teton face funding hurdles despite proven success in neighboring ecosystems.
Wildlife photographers and conservationists emphasize the ecological ripple effects of losing veteran breeders like 399. As the oldest documented reproducing female in Yellowstone-area history, her genetic legacy influenced three generations of grizzlies. Researchers estimate 14% of the region’s current grizzly population carries her DNA – a significant statistic for this still-recovering threatened species.
Park officials stress that neither collision involved speeding vehicles, revealing the difficulty of preventing accidents in crepuscular hours when bears actively cross roads. Proposed mitigation strategies include expanded nighttime speed restrictions, mandatory animal detection systems for new vehicles, and $6.2 million allocated for wildlife corridor development in Wyoming’s 2024 transportation bill.
As visitation peaks for summer 2024, the National Park Service urges travelers to:
- Reduce speeds below 45 mph in designated wildlife zones
- Report bear sightings via official park apps
- Use pullouts for wildlife viewing beyond 90 meters
The dual tragedies of bears 399 and 1058 have reignited conversations about modernizing the 1973 Endangered Species Act to address 21st-century threats like habitat fragmentation and climate-driven food scarcity. With Yellowstone’s grizzly population plateauing at 1,100 individuals, each preventable death carries heightened consequences for genetic diversity and long-term species survival.