Grizzly No. roamed the snowy wilderness of the Teton Mountains for nearly three decades. 399 has become a beloved mama bear to millions of park goers who follow her annual adventures and ever-growing family tree.

Nature lovers are mourning the death of the patriarch of the world-famous bear family, who died after being struck by a vehicle on a highway in western Wyoming on Oct. 22. Dozens of people braved the cold weather Saturday night in the picturesque ski town of Jackson to attend a candlelight vigil watched by nearly 1,300 people online.

Wildlife guide Bo Weldon told the meeting that the community would “ping-pong through the stages of grief” but despite the difficulty, that’s what they had to do.

“We are devastated and beaten down by this, but we are here together,” Weldon said as participants huddled together in the wet, cold rain.

A PBS documentary crowned the 28-year-old grizzly bear as the “Queen of the Tetons,” and an Instagram account dedicated to her has amassed more than 60,000 followers. He was known for frequenting tourist hotspots and roadsides in Grand Teton National Park, and became an ambassador for his species and a symbol for people trying to protect America’s public lands.

RELATED STORY | Famous Yellowstone grizzly bear ‘399’ killed in a vehicle collision

No. 1, which takes its name from the tag researchers attached to its ear. 399 was the oldest known breeding female grizzly bear in the Yellowstone ecosystem. It is known to have helped increase the grizzly population in the region from just over 100 in the 1970s to around 1,000 today.

She is known to have had 18 cubs in eight litters over the years, and some have been seen with cubs of their own.

His ashes were scattered this week in the Pilgrim Creek area of ​​Grand Teton National Park, where he spent most of his life, park officials said.

Master of ceremonies Jacob Krank described how he came across number 399 when he first entered the park to explore 13 years ago. Suddenly he saw “this beautiful brown bear” with her two cubs on the road. He was so close he could hear his breathing and his paws scratching the ground.

“He looked directly into my eyes. It was a very profound experience,” she said. “It’s like, ‘Welcome home. Where have you been all this time?’ “He seemed to be saying.”

Krank said the ceremony was assembled due to popular demand. When No. 399 died, people began posting on social media and asking questions at the Mangelsen Nature Imagery Gallery in Jackson, where Krank worked, which features photographs of the bear by Thomas Mangelsen, one of the best-known photographers.

Attendees observed a moment of silence and listened to Louis Armstrong’s rendition of “What a Wonderful World” as they tried to keep the wind and rain from blowing out their candles.

“399 will always be a part of this special place,” Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins said in a statement. “But there’s still work to be done to ensure that his descendants, and all grizzly bears, continue to thrive in the Yellowstone ecosystem. It’s up to all of us to make sure they do that.”

Grizzly bears are on and off the endangered species list. They are federally protected, but some state officials in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho have tried to remove federal protections as their populations have grown. States want to regain management of grizzly bears and allow limited hunting.

Environmentalists argue that the species still needs protection because food shortages caused by climate change are driving grizzly bears from their habitats in search of food.

Wildlife guide Jack Bayles said he often noted barren blueberry bushes affected by rising temperatures during trips to the Teton Islands, which may help explain why No. 399 was about 40 miles south of its habitat in the park when it was fatally killed. hit. Grizzly bears need to eat almost non-stop in the fall to store enough fat to sustain their hibernation.

The yearling male cub, known informally as “Rowdy” or “Spirit”, was at No. 399 when he was killed and has not been located for nearly two weeks since.

“There is no indication he was hit in the collision,” said Joe Szuszwalak of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “Given the bear’s age and time of year, the yearling’s chances of surviving independently are quite high, and there are no plans to capture it at this time.”

An average of three grizzly bears are killed each year in vehicle collisions in the Yellowstone ecosystem, according to data collected by researchers and released by the park. Grizzly No. 399 was the second grizzly bear killed by a vehicle in the area this year.

Law enforcement officials declared the bear’s death an accident. The driver was not speeding and was not injured.