Grizzly 399, “Queen of the Grand Tetons” in Wyoming, killed by vehicle

Grizzly 399, a 28-year-old brown grizzly bear, was fatally struck by a vehicle Tuesday evening in the Snake River Canyon, south of Jackson, Wyoming. She was identified through ear tags and a microchip.

According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Grizzly 399 had a one-year-old cub with her when she was struck. The boy's whereabouts are unknown and there is no evidence that the yearling was also involved in the accident.

“The grizzly bear is an iconic species that helps make the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem exceptional,” Chip Jenkins, superintendent of Grand Teton National Park, said in a news release. “Grizzly bear 399 was perhaps the species’ most prominent ambassador. She inspired countless visitors to support conservation around the world and we will miss her.”