JACKSON, Wyo. — Local legend Grizzly 399 has not emerged from hibernation just yet and before she does, we want to ask the Buckrail community: How many cubs do you think 399 will emerge with?
Male grizzlies come out of hibernation in early March and both Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park have reported the first grizzly sightings of 2023, on March 7 and March 22, respectively. Females with cubs usually emerge in April and early May.
At 27 years old, 399 has already raised seven litters. She separated from her most recent litter of four in May 2022. By July, one of the offspring, Grizzly 1057, was euthanized after at least 13 documented conflicts.
According to reporting by Wyofile, 399 was spotted in June breeding and appeared to put on weight throughout the fall. If she does emerge from hibernation with a litter, she would be the oldest monitored grizzly in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem to do so. According to Wyofile, the oldest known age of grizzly reproducing is 25 but a 2003 study found that fertility usually ends around age 29 for grizzly bears.
So, what do you think?
