JACKSON, Wyo. — Grizzly 399 and her four cubs were spotted in the southern areas of Jackson Hole today, Oct. 9.
Grizzly bears are currently in a state known as hyperphagia in which an adult bear consumes about 30,000 calories a day in preparation for hibernation. If 399 or her cubs were to obtain human food, pet food, birdseed or any other non-natural food source, this could put both her and her cubs’ lives in jeopardy.
Proper food storage is also crucial in protecting the livelihood of 399 and her cubs. “It’s really important that these bears do not receive any food,” said Game and Fish’s Mark Gocke to Buckrail in August.
For the community, that means making sure all attractants are secure. Attractants include pet food, livestock feed, compost, BBQ grills and garbage. Wyoming Game and Fish is discouraging people from putting out the garbage the night before trash collection to make sure bears do not have access.
Drivers should be aware that wildlife may be on the roads especially at night and during dawn and dusk.
399 and her cubs are expected to hibernate together this winter but it will likely be their last. It is common for a grizzly mother to care for her young for at least two years, feeding and protecting them. But when the cubs are two and a half years old, they typically separate from their mother. Her cubs have grown significantly since they first emerged in the Spring of 2020.
