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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• 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

Last day for visitors to drive Beartooth Highway (US-212) between Red Lodge and Cooke City, Montana, will be Oct. 14

The last day for visitors to drive the Beartooth Highway (US-212) between Red Lodge, Montana, and Yellowstone National Park’s Northeast Entrance near Cooke City/Silver Gate, Montana, is Monday, Oct. 14. The highway will be closed for the season Oct. 15.

Automobile travel east of Cooke City, Montana, to the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway is possible until early November, weather dependent.

Check the Montana and Wyoming departments of transportation websites for road updates and status.



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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

Western Wyoming Forests Caution Fire Danger

As unusually dry and warm weather persists across the West, so does fire season for Wyoming public lands. The Shoshone and Bridger-Teton national forests remind outdoor enthusiasts to be cautious while hunting and recreating this fall.

Currently, both the Shoshone and Bridger-Teton forests are in “Very High” fire danger, this means fires can start easily from most causes and may spread rapidly. Small fires can quickly become large fires and exhibit extreme fire behavior, such as long-distance spotting, especially with the windy conditions experienced recently.

The National Multi-Agency Coordination Group has raised the national preparedness level to 5, which is the highest preparedness level. This means firefighting resources are currently extremely scarce. A highly unusual weather pattern is forecast for the next two weeks, with above normal temperatures and dry conditions across the West. Temperatures will likely average 10 to 20 degrees above normal with very low relative humidity.

While most of eastern Wyoming remains under fire restrictions, many areas in western Wyoming are not. Please be aware of local public safety area closures, take precautions before venturing out, and be careful with anything that could start a fire.

“With a little extra effort and caution we can all ensure that human-caused fires are not contributing to the challenging situation we find ourselves in,” states Fred Tucker, Shoshone National Forest Fire Management Officer. “Just like everyone else, we’re all hoping for a significant rain or snow event that will bring the 2024 fire season to a close.”



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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