The Loss of a Matriarch

Mourning Grizzly 399

I am mourning the loss of Grizzly 399, the beloved "Queen of the Tetons" today. The iconic matriarch, the epitome of wildness and resilience, was struck and killed by a car on Tuesday. She had a one-year-old cub with her at the time of her death and so far, the cub’s location and well-being is unknown.

399 with her cubs from Wikipedia commons

Terry Tempest Williams wrote a beautiful tribute in a recent Instagram Post:

”For 28 years she has brought wild dignity, great presence, and immeasurable joy to throngs of people who were lucky enough to witness her beauty against the backdrop of the Tetons — She has birthed generations of blessed cubs who now populate the Greater Yellowstone — Each year, we said our prayers that she might return from her winter den each spring with new vitality and she did. Bless her singular spirit, how she kept her cubs in public view as a form of survival. We have lost a dear friend.”

Her loss is a profound one, not just for the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, but for all who love and appreciate the wild.

Elizabeth Leiter, Director of 399: Queen of the Tetons wrote this:

”399’s celebrity made her controversial. Yet, what she truly did was hold up a mirror, reflecting our own emotions, needs, and follies. Through all the intense feelings she inspired about her species, she taught us so much about our own.

399 never knew about the film, or her fame, or the fight over grizzlies that she came to symbolize. She just kept living her life. I have such deep respect for her and owe her a debt of gratitude. Making this film about her life changed mine forever.”

Photo by Leila Boujnane on Unsplash

The tragic death of Grizzly 399 is a stark reminder of the toll our roads take on wildlife. Countless animals meet their end on highways that sever vital habitats. I am not only mourning her loss but the stress of forests ecosystems interrupted by dangerous highways. I am mourning all of the wild neighbors I see dead on the road. Like Grizzly 399, I want to name and honor each one. I want to honor the preciousness of their lives, to have a place to put the constant sadness and trauma from seeing dead bodies on the road. What does it do to our emotional landscape to simply drive by?

A few years ago I began to name each animal I saw on the road and imagine their stories. I have journals filled with Stanley the opossum trying to make it to his beloved across the street, Ophelia the young porcupine who was just starting to explore the world, Wisdom the vixen who had seen so much her kits will never know, and on and on and on. It got overwhelming. My notebook is bursting with their names. Someday, I’ll create a book in their honor.

Today, I imagine a letter to Grizzly 399 from her one-year-old cub:

Dear Mama Bear,

I miss you so much. I miss your warm fur, your loving nudges, your comforting presence. I miss the way you guided me through the forest, protecting me and teaching me the secrets of survival.

Now that you’re gone, I feel so scared, so lost. I hope to grow strong and brave, just like you. I promise to keep your spirit alive.

With all of my love,

Your cub

Photo by Thomas Lipke on Unsplash

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As we mourn the loss of Grizzly 399, let's honor her legacy by advocating for wildlife crossings. A wildlife crossing dedicated to Grizzly 399 would be a fitting tribute to her life and a testament to healing fractured landscapes.

Wildlands Network is an incredible organization and a great resource to help you advocate for wildlife crossings in your area: https://www.wildlandsnetwork.org/