Not since "Smokey" the bear first emerged from the flames of a forest fire has a bear been so famous. A bear more famous than Smokey and Yogi combined. I am talking about the wild American grizzly bear simply known as "Grizzly #399."

"Grizzly #399" was a world-famous bear that researchers and fans of the bear have followed for decades. From the excitement of her raising cubs to watching as they emerge from hibernation, fans of the bear have been around to watch the bear live her best life.

According to the Cowboy State Daily

Grizzly 399, the most famous bear in the world, died Tuesday night after being hit by a vehicle on Highway 26/89 in the Snake River Canyon .

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service announced that Grizzly Bear 399 was fatally struck by a car south of Jackson. The bear’s identity was confirmed through ear tags and a microchip.

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Grizzly #399 was estimated to be 28 years old. It is unheard of for a bear to live in the wild for nearly 30 years. She truly lived a full life.

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Just last year Grizzly #399 shocked everyone when she showed up with a new cub. Fans of the bear named the cub "Spirit." According to reports, there is no evidence that that cub was involved in the accident and no one knows where the cub may be.

Three bears have been hit in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in the past year. Including #399. One of #399's cubs was struck by a semi-truck in 2023. Grizzly #610 seemed to recover from the collision fully.

RIP #399

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Gallery Credit: jessejames