On the death of Grizzly 399, caused by an auto collision, the following is a statement from Mary Cochenour, senior attorney in Earthjustice’s Northern Rockies Office.

“The Queen of the Grand Tetons, also known as Grizzly 399 offered people a glimpse into the life of a mother bear, who played with her cubs, cared for them, worried over them, just as any human mother would her children. She was fierce and loving and her loss is profound. For those of us who call this part of the world our home, we are fortunate to live among these intelligent, complex creatures.

“Vehicle collisions are one of the leading causes of grizzly bear deaths, compounding so many other human-driven threats to their survival. And this is looking to be a record breaking year for grizzly bear deaths, with 65 deaths counted so far, and all but one caused by humans. If 399’s death is not to be in vain, we should work to better protect grizzlies by reducing these incidents and other conflicts through better wildlife management practices including public education, infrastructure that protects wildlife corridors, and management that preserves roadless areas for grizzly habitat.”