Grizzly bears are apex predators and are at the top of their food chain. They have no natural predators well except man of course. In this article, we are going to focus on the grizzly bears' ability to survive, conserve populations, and dive into the studies around Grizzly 399.
Grizzly 399 is a highly popular celebrity animal with a massive social media following. As scientists and wildlife enthusiasts we can learn from the observations of her and her cubs throughout the years.
This is a deep dive
A complete list of references is provided at the end of the article
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Who Is The Grizzly Bear?
It's amazing that when these bears are born they weigh less than two pounds. Adult males average 700 pounds (315 kilograms) and females 600 pounds. However, they can range from 200 - 1000 pounds depending on sex and location.
The farther north you go the bigger the bears get. Grizzlies in northern Alaska need 6 months' worth of fat to allow them to hibernate through the long winter. Same for polar bears.
One way to tell a grizzly from a black bear is this massive hump over the shoulder blades. The hump is made of muscle, not fat, and is attached to the backbone. One reason why they are such fabulous diggers and can tear things apart.
A grizzly bear can also be identified by its rump, which is lower than its shoulders. Grizzlies have a fabulous sense of smell - 20 times stronger than a bloodhound.
Grizzly bears can look pretty scary and rightfully so. They have huge jaws with 42 teeth that include large canines. This makes sense because they need their teeth to catch fish and tear apart their prey such as elk and bison.
They also have large back molars so they can grind up the vegetation they eat. Grizzlies have a bit force of 975 pounds! Second only to the polar bear.
They have front claws between 2 - 4 inches long. Bear claws are not retractable. They are used for digging roots and dens or catching salmon. Basically, they act as a multi-purpose tool.
Grizzlies are wicked fast and have been clocked at Yellowstone going 30 mph or 48 km/h
Brown Bear, Black Bear, Red Bear, Blue Bear! What is the difference?
Obviously the last two are a nod to Dr Suess!
Grizzlies are a type of brown bear and scientists notoriously argue about their genetic classification.
Grizzly’s are distinguished by large size, a shoulder hump, and long claws as described above. They also have a much smaller range than black bears.
Grizzly Populations
So the grizzly or Ursus arctos horribilis - I love that name by the way - has been on a population decline for many years. Grizzlies originally occupied 18 states west of the Mississippi.
According to the US Department of Fish and Wildlife, there were 50,000 grizzly bears in the mid-1800s at the time when settlers were moving into western territories. They were encouraged to shoot, poison, and trap the bears to get rid them - period.
As of 2021, the population is approximately 1,923 bears in the lower 48. With about 800 in Montana and 600 in Wyoming and a small population in the Northwest Cascades. They are still on the endangered species list after several attempts to delist them. It's illegal to harm, harass, or kill these bears unless you or others are in imminent danger.
Image credit: USFW
This map is from the US fish and Wildlife for Grizzly Bear Recovery Zones and Estimated Distributions in 2022. My red circle is a rough location of 399's territory. This takes into consideration her birthplace at Pilgrim Creek, the Grand Tetons National Forest, and surrounding human communities.
What Do Grizzly Bears Eat?
Despite their penchant for fishing bears are omnivores and eat a variety of foods. They will hunt mammals - often going for the young and old who are easier to catch.
They also eat carrion. Those that live by the coast have been seen eating dead whales that have washed up. Like the black bear, they love berries, nuts, and tree fruits.
Bears are smart and know where and when the salmon will be coming up the river. Salmon aren't the only fish they hunt. Trout and bass are also popular prey.
Grizzlies will walk along the bottom of the river and look underwater for the fish. They will also dig for razor clams.
Grizzly bears can be found in a wide variety of ecosystems including alpine meadows, and prairies. In many habitats, they prefer riparian areas along rivers and streams. These areas also have a lot of berries to forage in summer and fall.
I was surprised to learn that grizzly bears will graze. In some locations, 70% of the diet is made up of plants. Digging of plant materials helps the soil exchange nitrogen and nutrients. Grizzlies will also carry prey around with them. Between decaying prey and their feces, they add nutrients to alpine meadows.
Grizzlies often leave leftovers while they are eating. This provides food for other species. In the case of salmon birds such as gulls and ravens in addition to smaller mammals like fox and mink enjoy there sloppy eating habits.
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Who Is 399?
She is probably the most loved bear in the world (including the Coca-Cola polar bear) and has a massive social media following. However, she also has some concerning habits and has had several offspring killed due to behaviors she has taught them.
399 which is her official tracking number has been studied and monitored for years giving us tons of information. She was born in 1996 in Pilgrim Creek and her territory includes Teton National Park, Bridger-Teton National Forest, and communities in the area.
Making her the queen bee at the old age of 28 when this year she emerged from her den with her single cub who has been nicknamed Spirit. Spirit was born in 2023. In 2020 399 gave birth to quadruplets a very rare event although in fact bears do have four teats.
So this is 399 with one of her cubs from 2020. NPS
Grizzlies normally live in pretty remote areas. High mountainous and alpine fields. They desire to avoid humans. 399 has always lived closer to human populations much like many bears in the Yellowstone area. And while we love to see her I think one of the big lessons here is about her habituation.
Habituation is basically when a wild animal loses fear of humans. I spent 12 years with my own wildlife rehabilitation center. I can tell you that the worry about having an animal not be releasable due to habituation is very real.
There are not enough placements in zoos and education facilities and the fact that states can and do order them euthanized is a recipe for panic attacks. I cant imagine how that translates with a large animal.
Although to be fair urbanization of wildlife is often a survival tactic on their part and does not always mean conflict with humans.
Life is about balance. Who doesn't want this adorable cub to live the life that god intended? As a free powerful grizzly bear. We must balance that with safety for bears and humans.
399’s Family
399's daughter, Grizzly 610, has also proved to not only be very fertile but an exceptional mother as well. In fact, in 2011 she adopted one of her mother's cubs. And they have been seen together several seasons with cubs in tow.
610's daughter, numbered 926 has also proven to be a prolific mother. So parenting skills do matter.
Hibernation
Female grizzlies are called sows and typically have twins but anywhere from 1 -4 is common. Cubs are born during hibernation, weighing less than 2 pounds and they will stay with mom for about two and a half years.
Grizzlies are wonderful and protective mothers and rare attacks on humans have often arisen because of the mother's perceived danger to the cubs.
Grizzlies have a low reproductive rate - one of the reasons their population declines quickly when faced with habitat loss and human predation. In addition, females, don't reach sexual maturity till age 5. Brown bear’s lifespan is about 25 years in the wild. Contrary to popular belief grizzlies can climb trees, even adults, and the young often use this tactic to escape aggressive older male bears. Cougars and wolf packs may also try to snatch a young cub.
The gestation period for grizzly bears is approximately 180–250 days. It varies due to environmental factors. The embryo typically doesn't implant till the mom reaches a healthy weight and is hibernating. The cubs stay with their mom until they are two and a half years old when they typically separate from their mother. In areas with little food, the cubs may stay with their mother longer.
Wildlife Management Concerns
399 has been fitted with radio collars several times and now deftly avoids trailers. The typical way to tag a grizzly is to lure them with meat into a trailer, slam the door, tranquilize them, take scientific readings, and then release them. While helpful in monitoring behavior pretty traumatic for the animal.
Two years ago she avoided trapping but two of the cubs were caught and tagged causing a very distressful and obviously traumatic family situation. This caused a lot of criticism for authorities who wanted to track her proximity to humans.
So to use the adage there are two covers on every book. I took wildlife management in college and it's a subject wrought with controversy! And while I will always side with the animal, I can see where it is necessary to do things that protect humans and thus protect animals.
Sadly we humans are very vengeful creatures.
In this video, we are going to focus on the grizzly bears' ability to survive, conserving populations and dive into the studies around Grizzly 399.
Traffic jams in the Yellowstone area are notorious. I have two interesting points here. First grizzly bears are exceptionally smart and do learn from past events. 399 had a cub killed in the upcountry by a male grizzly who do sometimes prey on cubs. Females who keep closer to human areas can more likely avoid male predation on their cubs.
My second point is that these communities around Yellowstone benefit greatly from tourism. The fact that they benefit from the bears while also using hazing techniques can be a bit contradictory.
I read one article that quoted a biologist as saying it wouldn't make a difference if an animal was a celebrity. I quite disagree. Celebrity status seems to be a major factor along with intelligence on why 399 is alive. Not only is she popular she is well loved.
Grizzly Bear Attacks
Many people fear grizzlies and rightly so but actually attacks average about 12 per year with 2 of those being fatal. These are usually surprise incidents with the majority being females with cubs. The National Park Service has information about protecting yourself in bear country. Obviously, you should follow their guidelines and take precautions while in wilderness areas.
399 has twice attacked humans who have startled her when she had cubs. She was not euthanized because the people survived and because both said it was their fault and asked that she not be harmed.
And while she has avoided euthanasia due to her notoriety three of her cubs have been euthanized due to human conflict and several have been hit by cars including 2016 cub, nicknamed 'Snowy' because of his whitish-blonde face coloration.
Her son from 2020 Grizzly 1057 was coming onto porches looking for food and was euthanized in 2022.
On November 10, 2021, Grizzly 399 walked down the streets of Jackson Wyoming at 10 o'clock at night. The police as well as fish and wildlife officers did follow her. She has had some minor conflicts and has gotten into bee hives, a farmer's grain and some compost.
The concern is she is teaching her cubs this is where to look for food. On the flip side, the USFW has pointed out to Jackson that the city was behind in enforcing and providing appropriate bear deterants.
Goals for humans is to be good neighbors with wildlife including grizzlies. Bearproof trash receptacles, protection for bee hives such as electric fencing, and wildlife crossings over roads are great ways to coexist. Grizzlies are large animals and have extensive territories. Making sure they have those safe corridors is something we need to think about when planning cities.
We have a history of conquering land and spreading out. Which I say with all the conviction of someone with Native American heritage. Let's start planning communities so that we leave wilderness areas and allow for connection corridors.
Another intelligent skill that 399 has developed and taught her cubs is a late denning. She often does not go into hibernation until early January because she knows that in the late fall, there is a hunting season for elk. Thousands of pounds of innards and organ meet is left in the field as well as bodies who ran away and later died from wounds.
And while hunting and conservation management is a whole nother issue it does show 399s intelligence and learned behaviors. And it most likely contributes to her remarkably good health and vitality as an older bear.
I do have another video called All About the Grizzly Bear which is more of general information about the species.
Breakdown of Differences Between Brown and Black Bears
Physical Characteristics
Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)
Size: Larger than black bears. Adult males weigh between 300 to 850 pounds, while females typically weigh between 200 to 450 pounds.
Color: Fur color ranges from blonde to dark brown, often with a mix of different shades. They are not uniformly brown.
Hump: A distinctive hump of muscle on their shoulders
Facial Profile: Concave or dish-shaped face with a more prominent brow ridge.
Claws: Long, slightly curved claws, which are good for digging and turning over rocks and logs.
Black Bear (Ursus americanus)
Size: Smaller than brown bears. Adult males typically weigh between 150 to 600 pounds, while females weigh between 90 to 300 pounds.
Color: Black bears can be black, brown, cinnamon, or even blonde. Despite the name, they are not always black.
Hump: No shoulder hump.
Facial Profile: Straighter profile with a less prominent brow ridge.
Claws: Shorter, more curved claws, adapted for climbing trees.
2. Habitat and Distribution
Brown Bear
Found in North America (primarily in Alaska, western Canada, and parts of the northwestern United States).
Prefer open areas such as tundra, alpine meadows, and coastal regions.
Black Bear
Found throughout North America, including Canada, the United States, and parts of northern Mexico.
Prefer forested areas with thick understory, but they are highly adaptable and can also be found in swamps, mountains, and occasionally grasslands.
3. Behavior and Diet
Brown Bear
More likely to be found in open areas and often feed on fish, particularly salmon and trout during spawning seasons.
Omnivorous diet including grasses, roots, berries, insects, and mammals.
More aggressive, particularly when defending cubs or food sources.
Black Bear
More likely to climb trees to escape danger or to forage.
Omnivorous diet similar to brown bears, but they eat more vegetation and are less reliant on meat and fish.
Generally more timid and will often avoid human encounters if possible although are becoming more habituated, especially in the parks.
4. Reproduction
Brown Bear
Mating season is from May to July, with cubs born during hibernation in January or February.
Cubs stay with their mothers for about 2 to 3 years.
Black Bear
Mating season is from June to July, with cubs born in January or February.
Cubs typically stay with their mothers for about 1.5 to 2 years.
5. Conservation Status
Brown Bear
Populations in the USA are listed on the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in the United States since 1975.
Conservation efforts focus on habitat preservation and reducing human-bear conflicts.
Black Bear
Generally more abundant and not considered threatened, though certain populations face challenges from habitat fragmentation and human interactions.
Management practices include controlled hunting and relocation programs to manage populations and reduce conflicts.
References:
Gunther, Kerry. (2015). Habituated Grizzly Bears: A Natural Response to Increasing Visitation in Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks. Yellowstone Science. 23. 33 - 39.
Hall, Travis (2022) Feds Propose Relocation of Grizzly Bears to Washington State. Field and Stream.
Mark Heinz (2024) Managing Wildlife Tricky When They’re Worldwide Celebrities, Like Grizzly 399. Cowboy State Daily.
Mattson, David. (2021). Estimating densities, distributions, and total population sizes of extirpated grizzly bears in the contiguous United States. Grizzly Bear Recovery Project Technical Paper GBRP-TP-2021-1
National Park Service Bear Attacks https://www.nps.gov/articles/bearattacks.htm
US Fish and Wildlife (2023) Grizzly Bear
Vital Ground - Our mission is to protect and restore North America's grizzly bear populations for future generations by conserving wildlife habitat and by supporting programs that reduce conflicts between bears and humans. https://www.vitalground.org/