Vigil set for Grizzly No. 399, the beloved Grand Teton bear who was killed by a vehicle

During her astir 3 decades roaming nan snowy wilderness of nan Teton Range, Grizzly No. 399 became a beloved mama carnivore pinch millions of parkgoers pursuing her yearly adventures and her ever-growing family tree.

Nature lovers are mourning nan matriarch of nan world-famous carnivore family aft she was fatally struck by a conveyance Oct. 22 connected a road successful occidental Wyoming. On Saturday nighttime successful nan picturesque skis municipality of Jackson, dozens are expected to brave frigid upwind to be a candlelight vigil, and hundreds much will watch online.

In this undated photograph provided by Grand Teton National Park a grizzly carnivore known arsenic No. 399 stands on broadside a cub. (C. Adams/Grand Teton National Park via AP)

Wildlife photographers, biologists and organization members will travel together to stock fond memories of nan 28-year-old grizzly known for frequenting tourist-heavy spots and roadsides successful Grand Teton National Park.

A PBS documentary crowned her “Queen of nan Tetons” and an Instagram relationship dedicated to her has amassed much than 60,000 followers.

“She was a surviving legend, and she became this ambassador for her type and a benignant of rallying awesome for group moving to conserve American nationalist lands,” said Jack Bayles, a wildlife circuit guideline who is organizing nan ceremonial successful Jackson’s municipality square.

Named for nan tag affixed by researchers to her ear, No. 399 was nan oldest-known reproducing female grizzly successful nan greater Yellowstone ecosystem. She has been credited for helping nan region’s grizzly organization rebound from conscionable complete 100 successful nan 1970s to astir 1,000 today.

In this undated photograph provided by Grand Teton National Park a grizzly carnivore known arsenic No. 399 walks on broadside a cub. (C. Adams/Grand Teton National Park via AP)

She had 18 known cubs successful 8 litters complete nan years, and immoderate person been spotted pinch cubs of their own.

Her ashes were dispersed this week successful nan Pilgrim Creek area of Grand Teton National Park, wherever she spent overmuch of her life, parkland officials said.

“399 will ever beryllium portion of this typical place,” Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins said successful a statement. “However, location is still activity to do to guarantee her descendants and each grizzly bears proceed to thrive successful nan greater Yellowstone ecosystem. It’s up to each of america to make judge they do.”

Grizzlies person teetered connected and disconnected nan endangered type list. They stay federally protected, but immoderate authorities officials successful Wyoming, Montana and Idaho person sought to remove national protections arsenic their organization has replenished. The states want to regain guidance of grizzlies and let constricted hunting.

In this undated photograph provided by Grand Teton National Park a grizzly carnivore known arsenic No. 399 walks on broadside a cub. (C. Adams/Grand Teton National Park via AP)

Conservationists reason nan type still requires protection arsenic nutrient scarcity caused by ambiance alteration has driven grizzlies further from their habitats successful hunt of food.

On his tours of nan Tetons, Bayles said he often draws attraction to barren huckleberry bushes affected by rising temperatures, which he said mightiness thief explicate why No. 399 was astir 40 miles (64 kilometers) southbound of her residence successful nan parkland erstwhile she was fatally struck. Grizzlies request to eat astir nonstop successful nan autumn to shop capable fat to prolong their wintertime hibernation.

At nan vigil Saturday, nan circuit guideline said he plans to singing a fewer songs that he and his wife, Gina, utilized to play while they were retired looking for her and her cubs.

A antheral yearling cub, known informally arsenic “Rowdy” aliases “Spirit,” was pinch No. 399 erstwhile she was killed and has not been located successful nan astir 2 weeks since.

“There is nary denotation it was struck successful nan collision,” Joe Szuszwalak of nan U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service said. “Given nan bear’s property and nan clip of year, nan yearling has a beardown chance of surviving independently, and location are nary existent plans to seizure it.”

This photograph provided by Grand Teton National Park shows Grizzly carnivore No. 399 and her cub successful 2008. (G. Pollock/National Park Service via AP)

On average, astir 3 grizzlies are killed successful conveyance collisions successful nan greater Yellowstone ecosystem each year, according to information collected by researchers and released by nan park. No. 399 was nan 2nd grizzly killed successful nan region by a conveyance this year.

Law enforcement officers person declared nan bear’s decease an accident. The driver was not speeding and was not hurt.