Grizzly bear #399's remains returned to Grand Teton National Park

On November 1, 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in partnership with Grand Teton National Park, honored the legacy of grizzly bear #399 by returning her ashes to the Pilgrim Creek area of the park, where she spent much of her life. Following a respectful cremation, grizzly #399’s remains were brought back to Grand Teton National Park, recognizing the connection grizzly #399 had to the area and the interest she inspired among visitors to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

“399 will always be part of this special place,” said Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins. “However, there is still work to do to ensure her descendants and all grizzly bears continue to thrive in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. It's up to all of us to make sure they do.”

Grizzly bear #399, who lived a long life and contributed significantly to the grizzly bear population in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, was killed in an accidental vehicle collision on October 22, 2024, approximately 40 miles south of Grand Teton National Park. Following the accident, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service received considerable public interest regarding how to honor the bear’s legacy. Taking into account the range of thoughts shared by the public, as well as operational and safety considerations, wildlife managers cremated her remains and returned them to her natural habitat.

“Grizzly bear #399 captivated people around the world, inspiring many to learn about the conservation of this important species,” said Hilary Cooley, Grizzly Bear Recovery Coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “We received an outpouring of appreciation for #399 and aimed to honor these sentiments in handling her remains.”

Grizzly bear #399’s yearling has not been located, though there is no indication it was struck in the collision. Given the bear’s age and the time of year, the yearling has a strong chance of surviving independently, and there are no current plans to capture it.

Grizzly bear #399’s life brought global attention to the grizzly population in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and underscored the unique opportunity and responsibility to coexist with these iconic animals. The National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will continue to work with partners to find ways to honor the legacy of grizzly bear #399 through education and conservation efforts.



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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Public input sought on proposal to improve Yellowstone National Park’s Northeast Entrance Road

The National Park Service, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, seeks public comment on a proposal to significantly improve 27 miles of the Northeast Entrance Road between Tower Junction and Yellowstone National Park’s Northeast Entrance. The road, damaged during the 2022 flood, is open to visitor vehicle traffic year-round and provides winter access to the communities of Cooke City/Silver Gate in Montana and to Lamar Valley, a main attraction in the park for world class wildlife viewing opportunities. The project aims to improve visitor safety, use and experience, while enhancing the road’s resilience to future floods and other natural disasters.

Need for Project

1) Aging Infrastructure: No substantial improvements have occurred since the 1980’s. The existing pavement has exceeded its 20-year design life and was not designed for the current amount of traffic. The age of the road, coupled with increased visitation, has taken a toll on bridges, retaining walls and culverts. The road is also susceptible to frost heaves in areas where it intersects with seasonally wet areas.

2) Outdated Standards Impact Safety: The road has a width of 20-22 feet while the modern park standard is 30 feet. The increased width and additional road shoulders, parking areas and turnouts would help minimize vehicle conflicts and improve traffic flow.

3) Resource and Resiliency Concerns: The lack of shoulders and turnouts leads to vegetation degradation and the spread of invasive weeds when drivers pull off the road. The road will be realigned in areas where it either washed out during the 2022 flood or may be vulnerable to similar future events.

4) Improved Visitor Experience: Due to the popularity and year-round use on the road, parking configurations in some turnouts need to be expanded or redesigned to add capacity and improve vehicle flow. More wildlife viewing turnouts would also be added.

Environmental Assessment Alternatives

Yellowstone invites the public to learn about and provide input on the Northeast Entrance Road project. Public input will help the park develop an environmental assessment (EA) that includes the following two alternatives:

1) No Action Alternative: No substantial infrastructure improvements would occur; however routine and periodic maintenance would continue as issues arise. Deterioration and maintenance needs of the road corridor would likely increase.

2) Action Alternative: The Northeast Entrance Road and associated infrastructure would be upgraded. Upgrades could include widening the road from 20-22 feet to 30 feet; repairing or replacing bridges and culverts; improving parking areas and turnouts; and providing additional turnouts where needed.

Public Comment

The public can submit comments about the proposed project until Dec. 3, 2024, to https://parkplanning.nps.gov/YELL_NER or by mail. Mail comments to: Yellowstone National Park, Attn: Northeast Entrance Road Project, PO Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190-0168.

Grizzly Bear 399 Fatally Struck by Vehicle in Snake River Canyon

On the evening of Tuesday, October 22, 2024, grizzly bear 399 was fatally struck by a vehicle on Highway 26/89 in Snake River Canyon, south of Jackson, WY. The bear's identity was confirmed through ear tags and a microchip.

Grizzly bear 399 had a yearling cub with her, whose whereabouts are currently unknown. At this time, there is no evidence to suggest the yearling was also involved in the incident, but the US Fish and Wildlife Service is monitoring the area.

Unfortunately, vehicle collisions with wildlife, including grizzly bears, are not uncommon across their range. The Service is working with state and local agencies to gather more information.

“People from around the world have followed grizzly bear 399 for several decades. At 28 years old, she was the oldest known reproducing female grizzly bear in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem,” said Hilary Cooley, Grizzly Bear Recovery Coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“Wildlife vehicle collisions and conflict are unfortunate. We are thankful the driver is okay and understand the community is saddened to hear that grizzly bear 399 has died,” said Angi Bruce, Wyoming Game and Fish Department Director.

“The grizzly bear is an iconic species that helps make the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem so extraordinary. Grizzly bear 399 has been perhaps the most prominent ambassador for the species. She has inspired countless visitors into conservation stewardship around the world and will be missed,” said Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins.

No additional information is available at this time.

Background information on grizzly bear/vehicle collisions from the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team:

* From 2009-2023, there have been 49 grizzly bear mortalities (all sex and age classes combined) due to vehicle collisions in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

* Average number of grizzly bear mortalities in the GYE due to vehicle collisions during 2009-2023: 3.3 bears/year.

* In 2024, including this incident, there have been 2 grizzly bear mortalities from vehicle strikes in the GYE.



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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Last day for visitors to enjoy most of Yellowstone National Park will be Oct. 31

The last day for visitors to drive most of Yellowstone National Park’s roads will be Thursday, Oct. 31. The West, South and East entrances and nearly all roads will be closed to regular vehicle traffic Nov. 1. The park annually closes roads at this time of year to prepare them for the winter season and snowmobile and snowcoach travel, which will begin Dec. 15.

Weather permitting, the road from Tower Fall to Canyon Village (Dunraven Pass) will remain open through Oct. 31.

The only roads open year-round are between the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana, and the Northeast Entrance in Cooke City/Silver Gate, Montana (via Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower Junction and Lamar Valley).

Visitors planning to drive in the park during the fall and winter should: Prepare for changing weather conditions, Have flexible travel plans, Expect limited services, and anticipate possible road closures due to inclement weather and dangerous driving conditions.

All communities near Yellowstone are open year-round, with local businesses offering a wide range of fall and winter recreation opportunities.



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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

The National Park Service invites you to help reimagine the Taggart Lake experience

The National Park Service wants to hear from you as we consider improvements to the Taggart Lake experience at Grand Teton National Park. This popular year-round trailhead supports a range of recreational pursuits from hiking in summer to skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. Taggart Lake is also a place where visitors of varying physical abilities and hiking familiarity have an opportunity to experience the backcountry. Growing visitation to the trailhead has led to overflow parking, deteriorated trail conditions, trail crowding, vegetation loss and insufficient facilities.

“We are asking people from near and far to weigh in on how we can continue to preserve the park and provide opportunities for high-quality experiences in the Taggart Lake area,” said Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins.

A public comment period begins today, October 18, and will last through November 21, 2024. The park will host a virtual public meeting on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. MST. For meeting information and to submit your written comments, please visit the project website.

Your comments will help inform the development of alternatives for the Reimagining the Taggart Lake Area planning effort. Alternatives will be analyzed in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and will be presented to the public for additional feedback in the future.

The NPS is working in partnership with Grand Teton National Park Foundation, the park’s philanthropic partner, on this project.



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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com