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Famous mama grizzly bear killed by car “stepped right out into the road” before collision, Wyoming officials say
The driver who struck and killed a famous grizzly bear south of Grand Teton National Park earlier this week was not speeding and the bear’s death was an accident, law enforcement officers said Friday.
The death of grizzly No. 399 on Tuesday night in the Snake River Canyon south of Jackson saddened tourists, wildlife biologists and amateur and professional photographers who for years studied and captured images of the bear and her many cubs and followed her comings and goings on social media sites.
“The bear stepped right out into the road,” Lincoln County Sheriff’s Patrol Lt. John Stetzenbach told the Jackson Hole News & Guide on Friday. The driver “was unable to brake in time to avoid the bear, and the collision occurred.”
He said the collision “truly was an accident” and that the driver was not speeding or distracted and was not cited. The Subaru that hit the bear had to be towed from the scene, Stetzenbach said.
He declined to identify the driver, noting some online comments blamed the driver for the bear’s death.
George Frey / Getty Images
At 28 years old, No. 399 was the oldest known reproducing female grizzly in the Yellowstone ecosystem. Each spring, wildlife enthusiasts eagerly awaited her emergence from her den to see how many cubs she had birthed over the winter – then quickly shared the news online. The bear had 18 known cubs in eight litters over the years, including a litter of four in 2020. She stood around 7 feet tall and weighed about 400 pounds.
Named for the identity tag attached to her ear by researchers, the grizzly was often seen near roads in Grand Teton, drawing crowds and creating traffic jams.
Wildlife photographer Thomas D. Mangelsen previously described the bear as his muse.
“Her intelligence, her behavior, her beauty,” Mangelsen told “60 Minutes” in 2018. “The fact that she’s had all these offspring. There’s not many bears that I know of that’s had three sets of triplets.”
Grand Teton bear biologist Justin Schwabedissen said Thursday that he believes her yearling cub, which was apparently not struck, will survive on its own.
Authorities said 49 grizzly bears died because of vehicle collisions between 2009 and 2023.
Grizzly bears generally live to be around 25, though some in the wild have lived for over 35 years, according to the Fish & Wildlife Service.
Before 1800, there were an estimated 50,000 grizzly bears living throughout 18 western States, including Wyoming, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service. By 1975, the population in the 48 contiguous states was reduced to between 700 to 800.
After decades of being listed as threatened in the lower 48 states under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, the population has grown to at least 1,923 grizzly bears in the 48 contiguous states.
contributed to this report.
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When Florida voters cast their ballots in the 2024 election, they have the chance to decide whether the state will legalize marijuana for recreational use. They can voice their stance by voting “yes” or “no” on Amendment 3, which seeks to change Florida’s constitution.
Here’s what to know about the ballot measure, which is one of six amendments Florida voters are considering this election.
What is Amendment 3?
Amendment 3 allows adults who are 21 or older to possess, purchase and use marijuana for personal, nonmedical reasons. It sets limits on how much individuals can legally carry — up to 85 grams of marijuana or 5 grams of marijuana concentrate.
It would also allow existing medical marijuana dispensaries to sell marijuana to recreational users. State-licensed businesses could be authorized to cultivate, process and distribute the product.
A “yes” vote on the amendment supports recreational marijuana legalization for people who are 21 and older, while a “no” vote favors keeping in place the system that makes marijuana only available for medical use.
Amendment must secure at least 60% of the vote in order to pass. If it does, Florida will join 24 other states in approving recreational marijuana use. Recreational marijuana use, however, would still be illegal on the federal level, which could create legal complexities.
If the measure passes, only medical marijuana treatment centers and other state-licensed facilities would be permitted — initially — to sell recreational marijuana. Eventually, new legislation could allow licensing for other businesses.
Polls on Amendment 3
A CBS News/YouGov survey in May found that 56% of likely voters would vote “yes” on Amendment 3, while 30% would vote “no.” Fourteen percent remained undecided.
More recently, in August, a Florida Atlantic University (FAU) poll also showed that 56% of all voters supported marijuana legalization, with the most support coming from voters between 18 and 49 years old.
Who supports and opposes Amendment 3?
Amendment 3 supporters argue that legalizing marijuana will curb the black market and ensure that marijuana products that are sold are safe and regulated. They also suggest that decriminalizing marijuana could free up law enforcement resources and reduce nonviolent drug offenses.
Proponents also argue the marijuana industry is “sustainable and growing” and would save taxpayer money by not having to pay to prosecute possession crimes.
Though some Republicans are against the measure, former President Donald Trump, who is a Florida resident, said he will back Amendment 3 on the ballot.
Opponents, meanwhile, say legalizing marijuana could lead to an increase in unregulated drug use, making roads less safe and negatively impacting youth. Some also believe crime rates could rise due to wider marijuana availability.
Florida’s Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, opposes the amendment, as does Republican Sen. Rick Scott, who said he opposes Amendment 3 because of his brother’s long history of addiction. He said his brother Roger Scott, who died in April, started smoking marijuana as a teenager and struggled with substance abuse the rest of his life.
Former secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Donna Shalala, wrote in a Miami Herald op-ed in September that the amendment would create a “new addiction-for-profit industry” in Florida. She made parallels with actions made by the tobacco industry.
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