JACKSON, Wyo. — Bear season is back in full swing in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, solidified by an appearance by the Queen of the Tetons herself, Grizzly 399.
The beloved bear was spotted in the northern part of Grand Teton National Park on Sunday, April 21. Grizzly 399 also had a yearling cub in tow. The pair was seen walking along a road and eventually stopping at a telephone pole for a back scratch, according to photographer Deb Greiner. Greiner found the bears’ tracks on Monday morning, noting that the tracks disappeared into the Snake River.
“These have got to be the cutest tracks I’ve ever photographed,” Greiner told Buckrail.
An additional pair of grizzlies was seen strolling through the Aspens Condominiums in Wilson on Monday morning.
As bears readjust to waking life after hibernating, they are on the hunt for easily accessible food. This means a juicy heap of unattended garbage will entice bears to venture too close to human-inhabited areas. For the safety of both humans and bears, the Town of Jackson and Teton County have wildlife feeding guidelines in place.
In the Town of Jackson, residents living in the Bear Conflict Zone (see above) are not allowed to feed wildlife, intentionally or unintentionally. Bear-resistant containers must be used to store garbage, petfood, grease, compost piles, beehives and more. Birdfeeders must be kept out of reach to wildlife other than birds. Fruit-bearing trees should be fenced, pruned and harvested to prevent wildlife from eating their fruits. See the Town of Jackson’s website for further detail.
Similarly, Teton County’s Land Development Regulations were updated in 2022 to require refuse and recycle containers and dumpsters to be bear resistant. See the county’s website for further detail.
